
Product placement, also called embedded marketing, is a way works, like movies and TV shows, reference another product to serve as an advertisement. The product is simply placed and used on the movie or TV show. This is often done by loaning the products, when the products would be too expensive to buy. In 2021, these agreements between companies and movies/TV shows were worth over $20 billion.
The executive creative director at marketing firm RTCdirect, in Washington, D.C., Shapiro sees embedded marketing as the logical next stage in the development of loyal brands.
Product placements and programming with embedded marketing messages are also becoming more prevalent.
The majority of product placement in film and television, Jones said, happens on a quid-pro-quo basis rather than in exchange for payment.