The average U.S. head of household is now nearly 50 years old, and more than 80% of the growth in the number of households in the next five years will be among those headed by people 55 and older. In fact, aging baby boomers will add more than 1 million consumers per year to the 65-and-older segment during that time -- increasing its number at more than twice the rate of the past five years. Fortunately for marketers, the chances are rising that not many boomers will be retired by 65. But that doesn't change the presence of …

As record labels struggle to adjust to a harsh new digital reality, other companies are stepping up their involvement in music, going far beyond standard endorsement contracts and the use of songs in commercials. Procter & Gamble, for example, is joining Island Def Jam in a joint venture called Tag Records, a label that will sign and release albums by new hip-hop acts. It is named after the body spray that P&G acquired when it bought Gillette. Bacardi announced it is helping the English electronic music duo Groove Armada pay for and promote its next release. Caress, the body-care …

The American Family Association -- a group led by Tim Wildmon that opposes same-sex marriages -- has called for a boycott of McDonald's because it says the chain has not stayed neutral in "the cultural war over homosexuality." In March, the association ended a two-year boycott of Ford after the automaker largely stopped advertising in the gay media. The association also has boycotted Target for substituting "holiday" for "Christmas" in its advertising and Walt Disney for its "embrace of the homosexual lifestyle." McDonald's joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce several months ago and placed an executive …

Kimberly-Clark has launched an online sweepstakes tied to the Box Tops for Education program. The "Rock Your School Sweepstakes" gives parents of children in grades K-8 a chance to win 100,000 Bonus Box Tops -- the equivalent of $10,000 cash -- and a concert featuring Radio Disney star Jordan Pruitt. People can enter online daily at http://www.RockBackToSchool.com or by mail. General Mills administers the 10-year-old Box Tops for Education program, which allows schools to receive money in exchange for proof-of-purchase of certain products. Kimberly-Clark has been active in it for the last two years. Parents can also earn …

Anheuser-Busch has asked three of its agencies -- DDB, Chicago, LatinWorks, Austin and Euro RSCG, Chicago -- for ideas on how to incorporate more of a "product benefit message" into Bud Light's always-humorous advertising. Dave Peacock, A-B's top marketing executive, notes that some recent Bud Light ads have dabbled in this approach. A series of Super Bowl ads from February focused on superhero-like abilities drinking Bud Light could deliver, and when those humorously backfired, instead hawked "superior drinkability." Peacock wants to push A-B's ads in that direction. In adopting a more product-focused approach, Bud Light seems to be taking …

Adidas AG is opening its biggest store in the world -- about 34,100 square feet -- in Beijing today. The long, glass-clad rectangular building reflects its ambition to use China as a battleground to overtake rival Nike and also serves to promote Adidas's role as the official sportswear provider for the Beijing Games, a privilege that cost an estimated $80 million to $100 million in cash and kind, according to people familiar with the matter. Growth in developing markets, including China, is vital to both sportswear titans because their sales are flattening in primary markets like the U.S. Thanks …

McDonald's is launching its biggest sponsorship ever around the Olympic Games in Beijing, and will support it, in part, with new products across the globe. They include a Beijing Burger and Rice Sticks in Latin America and Chicken and Fish sandwiches and a Shrimp Salad in Russia. In the U.S., McDonald's will promote its newly launched Southern Style Chicken. New cups and bags will feature nine U.S. Olympic and Paralympics athletes. In addition to the packaging, TV spots and online activities will support the effort. "We are bringing innovation to sponsorship and connecting with customers in ways we have …