“Our Job is to give artists wings to fly” — Leo Fender

Chunyu Chen
Marketing in the Age of Digital
2 min readSep 26, 2021

Fender, founded in Corona, California, has become one of the most popular brands since Leo Fender crafted his first electric guitar nearly seven decades ago. People from music beginners to the world’s most influenced artists have used Fender’s instruments, amplifier and gear, making the company not only a revered industry leader but a cultural symbol that resonates globally.

The Fender story is all about persistent innovation and deliberate consideration of design which made it easier and more comfortable to explore a range of sounds. One of the Fender inventions is P Bass® which brought musicians to a whole new world from the traditional bass. It could play more precise tones, connect with amplifiers and present an electrified vibe on stage. More importantly, beside to the big and famous bands of the era, Fender’s product also gave a chance for small groups of musicians and bands to get together to feel and communicate and perform.

The first time I played music was in elementary school. When I heard a simple sound by touching the keyboard, I was attracted and entered the world of music. Whether you consider music as a hobby or profession, it has the power to bring people together for a good purpose even if they come from different parts of the world and speak different languages. It’s the tool to communicate beliefs, exchange ideas and learn about other cultures. Furthermore, music is where people are able to freely express their emotion, creativity and where the spark of inspiration collide and renovate. I love Fender’s culture which allows everyone who loves music to be able to play with no limit.

The American Professional II Series | Fender — YouTube

The ad introduced Fender’s new product The American Professional II Series. Narrator in the ad said that if you want to be a guitarist, there are some rules you need to follow, such as hold the instruments properly, do not try to do too many things at one time, smile at the camera, do not try to change the world, etc. On the other hand, the video in the ad shows all the opposite ways of these rules, people play in different posts, cry at the stage, one man plays at least three different instruments in one performance and kids play music to resist racism. At the end the narrator said there are rules and you need something to break them with.

The contrast between narrator and story in the ad tells what the world tells you to do and how it limits our ability and thought. Everyone can become the person they want and do what they are passionate about. I think it perfectly pairs with Fender’s culture and the ad is inspirational and energetic. This is definitely shareable content because its message is not only for musical people, but everyone who struggles with their dreams with reality. They will be encouraged and they are not alone in this world.

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