Apple has shared a new 60-second black-and-white Apple Music ad starring chart-topping American country singer Brantley Gilbert.


According to publicity firm Big Hassle, the ad was shot over two days near the small village of Leiper's Fork, Tennessee. The video captures Gilbert on a motorcycle ride through the heart of rural America, while he praises the small town ethos that has helped him in his songwriting career.

I love the feeling out here. The freedom. The simplicity. The open road. This is my home. No matter where I go, my heart stays here. With my friends, my family. Just country. There's nothing that replaces the feeling of getting out there and letting it all go in the wind. People you meet, memories you share, and the soundtrack that drives it. My country. My people. My music. Apple Music.

The commercial features snippets of Gilbert's latest single, The Ones That Like Me, plus country and rock classics such as Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf.

"I've never been one for commercials," says the man who's certified back-to-back platinum for Halfway To Heavenand Just As I Am. "But when we started talking to the folks at Apple, they were saying, 'We want to capture you, the way you live and the values you hold. We want people to see your world, show them what you hear and respond to. If they see you, it says everything.'"

The ad debuted on NBC's pre-race show for NASCAR's annual Brickyard 400, sponsored by Gilbert and his label, on Sunday.

Gilbert has released three studio albums since signing with Big Machine Records in 2011, with four chart-topping singles such as Bottoms Up. He also wrote country singer Jason Aldean's popular singles My Kinda Party and Dirt Road Anthem.

Top Rated Comments

Nunyabinez Avatar
77 months ago
Not really a country music fan, but the dude has back-to-back platinum albums, so obviously there are plenty of fans out there.

Good for Apple to reach out to people who listen to whatever genres people enjoy.

Is there a Foo Fighters ad? ;-)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zirel Avatar
77 months ago
The commercial features snippets of Gilbert's latest single, The Ones That Like Me, plus country and rock classics such as Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf.
This ad will be effective.

People want to hear these songs, the radio isn't always playing them, obviously they can't. Enter Apple Music that has all the music you know and you don’t need to purchase each song to listen or pre-download (pirate) and sync and all that work.

Playing the same pop stars ad nauseum, that’s what people don’t need, and what the radio has to offer.

Apple just needs to make other radio stations other than Beats 1 that focus on specific genres.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bug-Creator Avatar
77 months ago
Who?
What?
WHY?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zirel Avatar
77 months ago
Who?
What?
WHY?
Apple
Wants to sell your a subscription to AM
To make money, like every business
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Juicy Box Avatar
77 months ago
The commercial features snippets of Gilbert's latest single, The Ones That Like Me, plus country and rock classics such as Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf.
Weird...
While reading this, I was listening to Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd on Pandora. It played randomly on the Thumbprint station.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lunarworks Avatar
77 months ago
That Apple shoving country music down our throats! Fire Tim Cook!

(This is sarcasm, for the sarcasm impaired. Apple Music expanding their reach is always good.)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)