10 Classic Acts Who Re-Branded

Whether in enterprise or music, re-branding is all the time a dangerous endeavor.

A real re-brand means taking an already established entity and giving it an overhaul. There’s an opportunity the brand new model could also be higher than the unique, nevertheless it’s additionally attainable you’ll alienate and drive away the very shoppers who made you profitable within the first place.

Just additionally firms make the daring, and generally silly, choice to re-brand, many artists over time have determined to revamp, with numerous ranges of success.

Jefferson Airplane has famously been via two completely different re-brands since turning into a profitable act within the ‘60s, with changes in music style accompanying their new names.

John Mellencamp may be known to the world by his birth name now, but it took a long time for him to reach that point. Several releases under the names Johnny Cougar and John Cougar Mellencamp show that even a legendary artist can be swayed by the heavy-handed suggestions of marketing advisors.

Prince felt the need to re-brand when a dispute with his record label reached a boiling point, while Cat Stevens was moved by religion to reexamine how he wanted to be known.

In the case of Joy Division, re-branding also served as a rebirth. After the death of singer Ian Curtis, the group knew it would have to evolve if it was going to move forward. Hit songs and decades of success later, New Order’s decision has proven wise.

We highlighted 10 Classic Acts Who Re-Branded below. Note: We’ve defined a re-brand as an artist who already had success before deciding to change. So you won’t discover basic pre-fame title modifications like Mammoth to Van Halen or Mookie Blaylock to Pearl Jam.