The Licensing Plate

So it looks like Swiftcover Insurance is running swiftly for cover.  According to Tina Shortle, Swiftcover marketing director:

The reason swiftcover.com doesn’t cover people in the ‘entertainment business’ is due to the risk of personal injury. That risk then becomes something for a specialist insurer to take on.

Regarding Iggy Pop, Tina had this to say:

Swiftcover.com chose Iggy Pop as the face of its advertising because he loves life, not because he is a musician.  He is an actor demonstrating the benefits of swiftcover.com.

So Iggy Pop was chosen because he loves life, and because he is an actor, not because he is a musician.  Is that what Iggy Pop is known for?  Loving life?   Being an actor?  I thought he was known for being a musician.  Apparently I was mistaken.

I’d like to see the short list for this campaign.  I guess it would consist of musicians who love life…and can act…but not be musicians, but be actors, but be famous…but not famous for being musicians, but for loving life, but be able to act…infamously I suppose.  Are you following me here?

Surely the general public, and musicians specifically, would not be so stupid as to assume that Swiftcover would actually insure Iggy Pop or his ilk.  No no.  Why would an insurance company hire a spokesperson that they would actually insure.

Celebrity endorsement contracts usually include language noting that the endorser use the product they are endorsing.  In this case, I suppose the opposite is true.  Maybe this agreement contains language noting that should Iggy Pop apply for Swiftcover insurance, he would be denied.

Question for Swiftcover, how could you hire a spokesperson who not only has never use your product, but would not even be permitted to use your product should they choose to do so.  Can this person speak intelligently about your brand.

I failed to understand this association when it launched.  After hearing Swiftcover’s circuitous logic for hiring Iggy Pop, I understand it even less.