Pepsi is celebrating up-and-coming artists by launching a new system that rates their popularity based on social media buzz around them. The iconic soda brand launched The Pepsi Music Index, a live ranking engine which analyses people’s real-time opinions on the performers and presents ‘the feedback’ in a clear ranking. The new system is very similar to the MTV Music Meter launched in mid-December 2010, which also builds a chart of the most popular emerging performers based on real-time discussions about them in the digital world.

‘Catch them young’ is thought to be the secret motto of all companies and brands, but as their activity proves, they are not only establishing strong ties with younger consumers from early years of their life to make them used to buying a particular product, but also support their creativity, encourage to develop eco-friendly attitude and start making contributions to the world though participating in a range of social projects devised or supported by brands. Today, we at Popsop are delving into answering the question of what marketing efforts attract representatives of Generation Z (born 1991-2002) and to some extend Generation Y (born 1981-1990).

In celebration of beautiful, confident women, Diet Pepsi presents the taller, sassier new Skinny Can at New York’s Fall 2011 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, February 10-17. The new Diet Pepsi Skinny Can, available to consumers across the U.S. in March, will launch with a series of fashion events and celebrations, including an art installation and collaborations with acclaimed designers.

Pepsi announced the program details of the 2011 Pepsi Refresh Project, a crowd-sourcing movement that supports bold, fun creative ideas that have the power to move communities forward. In 2010, the Pepsi Refresh Project, an award-winning program, directed millions of dollars to fund over 1,000 great ideas across the country, and now it wants to fund twice as many great ideas.

Pepsi Max, the soda brand which has connected with the rap culture primarily through to its latest commercial featuring Snoop Dogg (still, Nike remains the most long-standing fan of this music style), has unveiled a new project created in collaboration with famous representatives of this movement. Ahead of Super Bowl XLV, Pepsi Max teamed up with a bunch of hip-hop and rap stars to develop new videos as part of the NFL Audible program.

Frito-Lay, a world-renowned producer known for its commitment to offering natural and healthy products on the snacks and chips market, announced that in the coming 2011, it would produce 50% of its products using all-natural ingredients. The brand confirmed that it would exclude any artificial additives, flavours, ingredients, preservatives, and MSG from the recipes of such products as Lay’s, Tostitos, and SunChips.

In 2010, Pepsi proved that anyone anywhere can motivate and inspire Americans to move the world forward. Since February, all 50 states have participated by voting in the Pepsi Refresh Project. With over 61 million votes cast via www.refresheverything.com, the Pepsi Refresh Project is on track to award more than $20 million in grants to over 400 ideas in 2010.