Whenever something new, exciting and revolutionary is introduced to the general public, it's nearly a given that other corporations, companies and interests want to hitch their branding wagon to that train. And with the Apple iPod Nano, it was, and still is no different. The Apple iPod transformed the way the whole world thinks about where it takes it music. Soon after its release, you could walk around any hip metropolitan street and see those instantly recognizable white ear buds poking through the collars and jackets of many people, young and old, male and female. So, it didn't take a marketing genius to figure out that all those iPod listeners represent a huge target audience. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your point of view, a marketing genius did realize that.

Many companies that, at first glance, would have very little to do with the Apple iPod, soon lined up to be associated with the world's most popular portable digital music player. For example, there were many charities who worked together with the iPod. By hooking up with the Apple iPod brand, charities could appear current and important.

Although charities used the Apple iPod Nano effectively for themselves, it was the music industry that really took advantage of the iPod Nano. We all know that the music industry doesn't really like people downloading and listening to music for free on an Apple iPod Nano. However, some people in the music universe soon deduced that there were many people who only used the iPod for their music, and nothing else. The danger was that to go against the iPod Nano was to go against your fanbase.

Some bands decided to directly associate themselves with the iPod Nano; U2 being the biggest and most recognizable band to do so. Apple released a special U2 version of the iPod Nano. Of course, there was the obligatory super-cool ad campaign featuring the band, the songs and the Apple iPod Nano. Because of this foresight, two goals were achieved. One was to get the songs and iPod Nano introduced to the buying public. The second goal was that U2 did not appear to be anti-download and embraced the iPod and everything it can do.

In the early days of music downloading, there were many bands who scoffed at the idea of having their music listened to for free. This had a negative backlash against the image of the band. But, with the advent of the Apple iPod Nano, it is now imperative that if the whole world is going to be listening to this little device, then they might as well be listening to you.