The Met currently has on display a shining beacon of product placement: Ringo Starr’s legendary golden snare drum. The drum manufacturer Ludwig gave the gold-plated drum to Starr in 1964. Why? The drummer was known for his trademark drum set, which prominently featured the Ludwig logo. In the drum industry, where the products are similar, a celebrity endorsement like Starr’s use of Ludwig drums is significant. 
“On behalf of the employees and management of the Ludwig Drum Company, I would like to thank you for choosing our instruments and for the major role you are playing in the music world today,” Ludwig Company President William F. Ludwig, Jr. said at the presentation.
I like Ludwig's choice of the phrase, "choosing our instruments." While Ringo may have originally chosen the Ludwig brand, this gift ensured his continued use of Ludwig drums. The gift itself, which attracted media coverage at the time, did more to boost Ludwig’s standings than thank the Beatles’ drummer. Photographs with the golden instrument (although the images were in black and white), Ringo Starr and company executives heightened the company’s allure and probably boosted sales significantly. And prospective drummers and Beatles fans were more likely to buy a Ludwig product in hopes of becoming the next Ringo Starr.
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