Zune Masters: What's Involved?

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.zunerama.com/articles_009.php#061223_zune_story' target='_blank'>http://www.zunerama.com/articles_009.php#061223_zune_story</a><br /><br /></div><em>&quot;Microsoft's Zune Masters program hasn't started yet, but today Zunerama got an insider's glimpse into this exclusive club. As we reported earlier, Zune Masters are 18-22 year olds selected by Microsoft to be an elite team of Zune ambassadors. According to our source from inside the program, 163 Zune Masters have been chosen; there will be 200 in all. Each Zune Master receives a welcome kit consisting of a limited edition 30 GB Zune player (pictured, showing artwork on its flipside), ten Zune T-shirts, a custom Zune Masters messenger bag and insulated cap from The North Face, and Zune posters.&quot;</em><br /><br /><img width="500" height="375" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/zt/2006/wey-20061227-zunemasters.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />Details of Microsoft's <a href="http://www.zunemasters.com/" target="_blank">Zune Masters</a> program are slowly pouring in, with <a href="http://www.zunerama.com/articles_009.php#061223_zune_story" target="_blank">Zunerama</a> recently lifting the covers off some of the goodies that each ambassador receives. It'll be interesting to see just how successful this promotional campaign is. The pessimist in me is saying that while it may help improve public awareness of the device's existence, it won't boost sales dramatically, which is what Microsoft really needs if it hopes to share the limelight with Apple over the coming years.

[Damion Chaplin]

What exactly is that pictured on the back? A one-winged spittle-spewing screaming teddy bear with a human hand as its bottom half?

They look like they're wailing in despair at their grotesque fate...

[blazingwolf]

The artwork is strange, maybe you need to be between 18-22 to understand it. ;)

Why 18-22? Those that are older are not good ambassadors?

[David Tucker]

I'm a few weeks away from 26...I applied anyway. I doubt they're going to really restrict it to just those.

[Aaron Roma]

Us "old fogies" just don't get this new fangled music thingie. Now, where did I put my walkman...

[LPD]

Yes Grasshopper, you too can be a Zune Master. The general idea of enlisting a bunch of young evangelists to promote the product is a good one.

So why does it seem that Microsoft will totally screw this up?

One thing I don't think has changed since I was 18 is that things have to be cool, not try to be cool. If you have to try then its not cool. This appears to being trying really hard.

Would it make sense to send out these "Zune Masters" in pairs so someone could actual see the WiFi feature work? (Just a thought)

Setting up free concerts I think would be a better idea, then give the people a free 14-day Zune Pass when they leave.

Personally, 200 really hot women in Zune bikinis (Zune tattoos optional) hanging out at clubs and showing off a Zune works for me:D . (It seems to work at the auto shows)

[Paul Martin]

Zune-Online did a blurb on the artist behind the logo (http://www.zune-online.com/news/zune/the-antiantisocial-ambassadors-of-zune.html). At least it makes a tiny bit more sense. :)

[Phillip Dyson]

Here's my idea (http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/showthread.php?t=491)on what I think would work much better. The critical thing is to get people to experience the Zune in its natural habitat. Which would actually be in a a social environment.