The Undercover Ad Uses AI Generated Songs to Promote Standard Bank Without Disrupting YouTube Music

The Undercover Ad is a campaign of AI-generated songs which are secretly advertisements that don’t sound like advertisements at all (Image supplied)

The campaign is an innovative, non-invasive example of advertising that utilises artificial intelligence (AI) technology to market Standard Bank’s app seamlessly on YouTube Music.

Integrated creative agency M+C Saatchi Abel, part of The Up&Up Group, partnered with Standard Bank to deliver the campaign.

Blending in

In an age where advertisements interrupt people’s music viewing and streaming experience on YouTube, M+C Saatchi Abel asked the brutally simple question: How do we market the Standard Bank app without interrupting YouTube Music users’ listening experience?

“Instead of forcing our way in, we blended in, creating 17 genre-specific tracks – all generated from a single script – tailored to users’ playlists,” says M+C Saatchi Abel executive creative director Rory MacRobert.

Zoning in on the campaign itself, MacRobert says it was designed to include all of South Africa’s demographics.

“We targeted digitally fluent, music lovers who are mobile-first, ad-avoidant, culturally aware and sceptical of traditional marketing but open to innovation.”

MacRobert explains that the entire music production was AI-generated, using thousands of prompts to end up with the final 17 tracks to align with the top-played genres of music in South Africa, from Afrohouse and Amapiano to Country Rock.

The result is that each track, or ad, was adapted visually and sonically to match the genre, for example, the standard financial services provider (FSP) disclaimer sung in reggae or jazz style, for example.

Tangible results

The campaign target impressions were 10 million, yet to date, it has already achieved 40 million+ impressions.

The industry view-through rate benchmark is 15%, whereas the efficacy of the native approach has achieved view-through rates of up to 40%.

Other key performance indicators include:- CPV: Target +- Brand sentiment uptick of 3,9%- App downloads: Achieved 110% of goal.

MacRobert explains that in this instance, tangible results went beyond awareness and downloads.

A secondary goal, he says, was to shift brand perception.

“The campaign is effective at positioning Standard Bank as an innovative, digitally fluent brand aligned with culture and user behaviour.”

Susan Steward, head of marketing, personal and private banking, Standard Bank SA says it was important for the bank to communicate the value of the Standard Bank app in a way that feels native to the platform.

“We wanted users to see and experience Standard Bank, not as an interruptive advertiser, but as a brand that understands and respects the digital environment of users. Working closely with M+C Saatchi Abel, we have achieved this objective.”

She adds that Standard Bank’s app is secure, fast and easy to use, and so the campaign needed to complement this.

“As Standard Bank, we are committed to effective banking that blends into people’s lives seamlessly. “Our primary business objective was to drive app awareness and downloads from a tech-savvy audience. “The campaign therefore needed to represent banking that blends in, where technology meets culture."

Commitment to creativity

The Up&Up Group’s chief creative officer, Neo Mashigo, says the innovative campaign was a direct result of the group’s commitment to creativity.

“As a group, we believe that creativity elevates just about everything.

“And so, across the leadership of the Group, our commitment to diversity no doubt adds extra momentum in landing on creative outputs that continue to deliver tangible results for our clients.”

Approach to technology

The Up&Up Group’s chief executive officer Jacques Burger, says the group has a clearly defined approach to technology.

“We are in the business of creativity. At the same time, we are living in the most extraordinary times, where rapid advances in technology are allowing us to scale creativity quickly.

The Up&Up Group leverages technology and AI as platform drivers for creative excellence and innovative solutions.”

Credits

Client: Standard Bank | Lesego NgcamuAgency: M&C Saatchi AbelManaging director: Masego MotsogiExecutive creative director: Rory MacRobertCreative director: Lee GoodallCopywriter: Lee Goodall/ Rory MacRobertArt director: Witty ManyuhaStrategy lead: Derrick NyirendaAccount management: Jessica Falconer / Sanele Mkhize