Spotify, in collaboration with beverage brand Liquid Death, has unveiled an extravagant collector's item: a funeral urn with an integrated Bluetooth speaker. The device, called the Eternal Playlist Urn, has the shape of a traditional urn but is not intended for storing ashes—it's for playing music. Limited to 150 units, this edition will be sold exclusively in the United States for $495. The creators emphasize that the product aims to "make death less boring" and to take the love of music "to the next level."
Limited collector's item
The companies released only 150 units of the Eternal Playlist Urn, available exclusively in the United States. The sale has a collector's nature, and the product is presented as an item for fans of unusual gadgets and alternative marketing.
Unusual brand collaboration
The collaboration involves streaming platform Spotify and beverage brand Liquid Death, known for provocative marketing campaigns centered on death and heavy metal themes. Both companies have image-breaking, unconventional branding, reflected in the product's controversial design.
Speaker function, not an urn
The urn, made of polyester resin, functions solely as a wireless speaker. Bluetooth technology is built into the lid of the vessel, which measures 7 by 11.4 inches. The manufacturers admit that audio quality may not be a priority in such an unusual enclosure.
Marketing provocation
The campaign has a distinctly humorous and provocative character, referencing the slogan that "life needs music, so life after death does too." This move fits into a long tradition of extravagant marketing stunts in the technology and beverage industries.
Music streaming platform Spotify and beverage brand Liquid Death have unveiled a joint, limited-edition product that blends technology with dark humor. The Eternal Playlist Urn is a Bluetooth speaker encased in a white shell styled as a traditional funeral urn. As all sources emphasize, the vessel is not for storing ashes, and its sole function is to play music. The product measures 7 by 11.4 inches, with all electronics hidden in its lid. Sales are conducted exclusively in the United States, with the run limited to just 150 units, highlighting the gadget's collector's appeal. The price of $495 is considered inflated for a simple speaker by commentators but justified by its rarity and extravagant form. The Liquid Death brand, founded in 2017, has built its image around controversial, "metal" aesthetics from the start, selling spring water in cans with aggressive logos. Spotify, meanwhile, regularly experiments with physical products and unconventional marketing campaigns to stand out in the competitive streaming market. In a press release, the companies humorously stated that the product aims to "make death less boring" and allow one to "enjoy their favorite playlist for all eternity." The collaboration seems natural, as both brands have long specialized in non-standard promotional activities. As noted by Gizmodo, the audio quality from a speaker enclosed in a plastic urn may be questionable—a point even the creators admit, suggesting that the main reason for purchase is the absurdity and provocation, not audio performance. „We question the audio quality, since all the tech is crammed into the lid of this tiny urn.” — TechCrunch The Tabletowo.pl portal described the product as "a bit creepy." This move fits into the broader trend of so-called death marketing, where taboo topics become elements of campaigns designed to attract attention and evoke emotions, even negative ones.
Perspektywy mediów: Technology media treat the product as another absurd marketing stunt, focusing on its practical uselessness and high price. Conservative portals may view this action as irresponsible and trivializing the seriousness of death, particularly in the context of family values.