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 iPod listerally changed the way the world thinks about 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. All those iPod uses 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.

However, even though charities recognized the power of the iPod, it was the music industry itself that has taken the greatest advantage of the reach and visibility of the iPod. Now, the music industry generally frowns upon downloading music from a computer onto an iPod without paying for it. But, some people in the music world realized that the iPod Nano is so popular, that there are people who won't listen to music in any other format besides on their iPod. The danger was that to go against the iPod Nano was to go against your fanbase.

The biggest band to work with the iPod was U2. A special U2 version of the iPod was released, and selected songs from an upcoming album were only available to be heard via the iPod. Of course, innovative, expensive and exceptionally cool marketing and advertising campaigns were released. Because of this foresight, two goals were achieved. One, of course, was to work together with the Apple iPod Nano to get the music and songs released and introduced to the public. The second goal was that U2 did not appear to be anti-download and embraced the iPod and everything it can do.

Before, there were many bands who did not like the idea of downloading. 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.