Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe Beatles song was John Lennon’s “Revolution,” which Alan Bradshaw says Lennon worked on while the band was in India in 1968. In 1987, Nike used the Beatles’ original recording in an Air campaign called “Revolution in Motion.” Nike grew sharply in the following years, but the available figures show timing and association—not that one advertisement alone made the company a billion-dollar brand.
Which Beatles song had the Indian connection?
It was “Revolution,” written by John Lennon. In a 2018 historical account, advertising scholar Alan Bradshaw places Lennon’s work on the song during the Beatles’ 1968 stay in India, where the band was meditating with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Bradshaw sets the song against the political upheaval of that year. This is Bradshaw’s account of the song’s origins, rather than a claim established here by a contemporary Lennon document. Read Bradshaw’s account.
How did “Revolution” become a Nike advertisement?
Nike used the original Beatles recording in a 1987 campaign for Nike Air shoes. The campaign’s phrase was “Revolution in Motion,” linking the song’s title to the product’s promise of movement. TIME reported that the spot featured professional athletes, including John McEnroe and Michael Jordan, alongside ordinary participants. Nike communications director Kevin Brown explained the choice: “another brain wave struck — using the Beatles classic Revolution, music that best epitomizes the concept, to help make our point.” TIME’s May 18, 1987 report.
Why was the campaign controversial?
The dispute concerned Nike’s use of the Beatles’ recording. In July 1987, The Washington Post reported that the three surviving Beatles had sued Nike over the ad, which had begun airing in March. The Washington Post’s report.
#1 Best Overall
UPI reported in February 1988 that Nike had agreed to stop using the recording and let its option for another year lapse. Bradshaw’s later account says the broader lawsuit was settled out of court in 1989. UPI’s February 22, 1988 report.
Did the advertisement make Nike a billion-dollar brand?
Bradshaw reports that Nike’s sales doubled in the two years after the campaign, that the company held 29% of the global athletic shoe market by 1991, and that sales exceeded $3 billion by 1991. These are figures reported in his 2018 article; they are not independently verified here against Nike filings. Bradshaw’s article and figures.
The chronology supports saying that the campaign accompanied a period of major growth. It does not establish how much growth the ad caused, or prove that the ad alone turned Nike into a billion-dollar business. Bradshaw connects the campaign to Nike’s broader branding story; the figures themselves cannot isolate the effect of a single commercial.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Further reading
Alan Bradshaw and Linda Scott’s book Advertising Revolution: The Story of a Song, from Beatles Hit to Nike Slogan traces the song’s history through the Nike campaign and its controversy. Google Books catalog entry.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- ✅ Premium Quality Vinyl | Outdoor Life is 6 to 7 years
- ✅ UV Protective Laminate Fade Resistant Coating | (This Coating is Not Applied to Many Vinyl Decal Listings)
- ✅ Size: 7 x 2.5 Inches | Easy to Apply
- ✅ Great decal sticker for Autos, SUVs, MacBooks, Computers, Tablets, Lockers, Windows, Bumpers, etc.
- ✅ Proudly Made in the USA | Family-Owned and Operated Business | Vincit Veritas ~ All Rights Reserved
Rank #4
- Record has been cleaned and new sleeved.
- 7" Vinyl 45 Record
- Hey Jude / Revolution
- Writing on label
- Sticker on label
Rank #3
- Exclusive Beatles Mini 3 Inch Vinyl Record and Carry Case honoring the 1964 Beatles Ed Sullivan Appearance
- Fully Functional: 3-inch record is compatible with Crosley’s Mini Turntables (sold separately)
- Matching Carry Case: Featuring the iconic Beatles logo, the stylish carrying case holds up to 30 mini records
- Keep Your Discs Safe and Secure: Carry case features a sturdy metal and resin handle, corner guards and heavy duty latches and hinges to protect your records from bumps and drops
- Bundled with one of the first songs the band played on the Ed Sullivan Show: 'All My Loving'
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
