Diddy, Jay-Z and Other Celebs Enjoy Profitable Drink Endorsements

Man cannot live by bread alone. For several prominent musicians, that statement holds especially true as the “bread” typically generated by albums sales isn’t as bountiful thanks in large part to the digital revolution and a contracting economy. In response, the astute businessmen of the bunch have turned to other revenue streams like lucrative drink endorsements. Here are five artists in particular that possess serious drink swagger.  –dewayne rogers

Diddy
The Drink – Ciroc
The Lowdown – When Diddy first inked the deal to peddle Ciroc Vodka, it was rumored that the mogul could net upwards of $100 million. Judging by how aggressively Diddy promotes the brand, those whispers appear to be dead-on.

Dwele
The Drink – McCafé
The Lowdown – Perhaps one of the industry’s most underrated artists, Dwele used the backdoor to mainstream notoriety by inking a major endorsement for McDonald’s McCafé — the company’s strategic response to the Starbucks empire.

Jay-Z
The Drink – Budweiser Select
The Lowdown – Not only did Jay-Z let Budweiser sink boatloads of cash into the promotion of his Kingdom Come album, but he also made sure they named him co-branding director for Budweiser Select.

Jermaine Dupri
The Drink – 3 Vodka
The Lowdown – It’s been a while since So So Def made waves on the music front. But that hasn’t stopped music mogul Jermaine Dupri from racking up the big bucks thanks to a deal that made him a partner and co-owner of the Chicago-based vodka brand.

John Legend
The Drink – Baileys Irish Cream
The Lowdown – Legend couldn’t turn down the opportunity (or the checks) to lend his face to a drink just as smooth as his vocals. “They [Baileys] really like who I am as an artist and what I represent,” he said after inking the deal. “They want my fans to be Baileys customers and I feel like they treat my fans in a mature, respectful way.”