Ad of the Day: Falkor From The NeverEnding Story Soars as Spotify's New Spokesdragon

Spotify's new brand campaign from Wieden + Kennedy sings a number of different tunes—employing everything from '80s nostalgia to present-day political anxiety—as it mines the app's data to tell stories about how its users enjoy particular tracks. The campaign features three new TV spots, including—perhaps most notably—one with Falkor, the dragon-dog from the 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story. The point of the ad is simple: "The NeverEnding Story," the song by the English pop singer Limahl, is streamed at least once every day by someone in the world. In the spot, Falkor remarks on this oddity, as does Atreyu, riding on his back—except Atreyu is no longer a 12-year-old boy but a 44-year-old man. That's because W+K New York got Noah Hathaway to reprise the role. And in fact, that's Alan Oppenheimer doing the voice of Falkor, as he did in the original movie. Check out the spot and a behind-the-scenes video here: Two other spots focus on other other random data tibdits. The first is that the Flo Rida track "My House" keeps popping up in Spotify users' playlists about moving. The second is that Pope Francis has a rock album. Those info-nuggets are amusing communicated in unexpected ways: The ads, directed by Tim Godsall of Anonymous Content, begin airing Monday on TV, in cinema and online. Digital and out-of-home ads drive to custom playlists available for free to all Spotify and non-Spotify users. Those playlists are available at NeverEnding80s.com, MovingUpToCanada.com and RockingNuns.com. The OOH includes a life-size mural of Falkor hand painted in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y. The idea to focus on the Spotify stories behind the songs, not just the songs, came from a need to start a conversation beyond hard-core music fans. Thus, the message is: If you don't use Spotify, you're missing out on a fun, collective experience—as well as great music. CREDITS Client: Spotify Chief Marketing Officer: Seth Farbman Vice President, Creative, Brand Strategy: Jackie Jantos Global Brand Director: Alex Tanguay Global Creative Director: Alex Bodman Vice President, Global Consumer Marketing: Amy Ferris Head of N.A. Consumer Marketing: Marian Dicus U.S. Marketing Manager: Alexander Cole Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, New York Executive Creative Director: Karl Lieberman Creative Directors: Erwin Federizo, Brandon Henderson Art Director: Jed Heuer Copywriter: Will Binder Creative Tech: Craig Blagg Senior Producer: Orlee Tatarka Head of Content Production: Nick Setounski Account Team: Casey Jennings, Molly Friedman, Kerry O'Connell Head of Art Buying: Deb Rosen Art Buyer: Ali Berk Head of Project Management: Yann Samuels Senior Interactive Strategist: Tom Gibby Senior Social Strategist: Jessica Abercrombie Group Media Director: Ryan Haskins Business Affairs: Sara Jagielski, Keri Rommel, Lindsey Timko Broadcast Traffic Supervisor: Sonia Bisono Print Producer: Jeannie O'Toole Retouching: Chris McClelland, 150 Proof Studio : Tara Kennedy, Chris Kelsch, Nathan Dalessandro Creative Services Director: Chris Whalley Studio Manager: Jill Kearton Production Company: Anonymous Content Director: Tim Godsall Executive Producer: Eric Stern Directors of Photography: Andre Pienaar, Darko Suvak Editorial Company: Final Cut Editor: ("NeverEnding"): Michael Dart Wadsworth Editor ("Nuns" and "Moving"): Jeff Buchanan Assistant Editor: Spencer Campbell Post Producer: Jamie Nagler Post Executive Producer: Sarah Roebuck Visual Effects Company: Method Studios Executive Producer: Angela Lupo Senior Producer: Heather Saunders Lead Flame Artist, Creative Director: Tom Leckie VFX Supervisor: Vernon Wilbert Post Production ("Nuns"): Significant Others Visual Effects Artists ("Nuns"): Betty Cameron, Dirk Greene, Phillip Brooks Post Producer ("Nuns"): Alek Rost Color: Company 3 Colorist: Tom Poole Music Supervisor: Beth Urdang Mix Company: Sonic Union Mixer: Steve Rosen

Brand Marketing

Ad of the Day: Falkor From The NeverEnding Story Soars as Spotify's New Spokesdragon

W+K spots show how app's users elevate tracks together

Tim Nudd

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Tim Nudd