FERGIE'S SOUR CANDIES: Stacy Ann Ferguson — aka Fergie — may not be that sweet on Candie's after all. Earlier this week the pop star denied a report in The Sunday Times of London that she planned to name-check Candie's clothing in her songs as part of a recent deal to front the brand's fall ad campaign.
"It's completely false," she told WWD on Monday, adding that she is taking legal action against the paper. "I don't know where they got it from. I sing about a lot of things in my songs — from cars to Taco Bell — but not because I'm paid to!"
The story, headlined "Black Eyed Plugs: Fergie's Songs to Push Fashion Label," was published on July 1. It said the name-check clause was part of a 2 million pound, or $4 million, deal between the singer and Candie's, which is owned by Iconix Brand Group Inc.
The story quoted an unnamed executive at Interscope records, Fergie's label, as saying: "With record sales in decline, you must find novel ways to make money out of the music. The trick is to make the brand part of the song so that it slips down easily rather than chokes the fan."
The executive is later quoted as saying: "Candie's will reach teens, but it has no say over exactly what Fergie will sing, or when. Fans might think she is just singing about candy. But it's got to work with the song. Fergie does not sing jingles."
A spokeswoman for Iconix Brand Group also denied that Fergie was being paid to plug the brand in her music. "Contrary to recent reports, Candie's does not have an arrangement with Fergie whereby she will incorporate the Candie's brand into her lyrics. Currently, Fergie acts as the junior brand's spokesperson and appears in its multimedia marketing campaigns including print, national television, Internet and promotions."
A Sunday Times spokeswoman declined all comment. This is the second time in one week The Sunday Times' fashion reporting has been disputed. A Prada spokesman denied a weekend report in The Sunday Times stating that U.K. business tycoon Richard Caring is in talks to buy the Italian company. The spokesman said Prada has had no contact with Caring and is still pursuing its plan to go public rather than seek a sale. — Lucie Greene
"It's completely false," she told WWD on Monday, adding that she is taking legal action against the paper. "I don't know where they got it from. I sing about a lot of things in my songs — from cars to Taco Bell — but not because I'm paid to!"
The story, headlined "Black Eyed Plugs: Fergie's Songs to Push Fashion Label," was published on July 1. It said the name-check clause was part of a 2 million pound, or $4 million, deal between the singer and Candie's, which is owned by Iconix Brand Group Inc.
The story quoted an unnamed executive at Interscope records, Fergie's label, as saying: "With record sales in decline, you must find novel ways to make money out of the music. The trick is to make the brand part of the song so that it slips down easily rather than chokes the fan."
The executive is later quoted as saying: "Candie's will reach teens, but it has no say over exactly what Fergie will sing, or when. Fans might think she is just singing about candy. But it's got to work with the song. Fergie does not sing jingles."
A spokeswoman for Iconix Brand Group also denied that Fergie was being paid to plug the brand in her music. "Contrary to recent reports, Candie's does not have an arrangement with Fergie whereby she will incorporate the Candie's brand into her lyrics. Currently, Fergie acts as the junior brand's spokesperson and appears in its multimedia marketing campaigns including print, national television, Internet and promotions."
A Sunday Times spokeswoman declined all comment. This is the second time in one week The Sunday Times' fashion reporting has been disputed. A Prada spokesman denied a weekend report in The Sunday Times stating that U.K. business tycoon Richard Caring is in talks to buy the Italian company. The spokesman said Prada has had no contact with Caring and is still pursuing its plan to go public rather than seek a sale. — Lucie Greene
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