You’re probably thinking “Viral hold music?? This guy sounds amazing.” And you’re right, but that wasn’t always the case.

In 2017, I was just a dude with an advertising degree resigned to the idea that I might remain a bartender for the rest of my life. I’d been to Chicago, where everyone told me I needed portfolio school. But with so much debt already from making fake ads, I chose the sketch and improv route thinking I’d just “yes, and…” my way into an agency.

Then I met a guy at a party. By the end of the night, I had a job offer to a place I’d wanted to work for, even gotten rejected from, for years. My Don Draper dream was happening. I’d start in the mailroom in two weeks.

For the next three years, I worked my way up, from sorting mail and picking up trash around the office to overseeing the whole damn mail operation. The entire time, I was soaking it in and learning things they don’t teach in portfolio school—like, trash always smells worse in the summertime.

Back then I cornered more than one creative in the elevator saying I wanted to be just like them (it wasn’t weird). Eventually that led to my first brief for Universal Studios but ONLY if I dressed like Justin Timberlake and sang songs on piano for a project manager’s birthday party. Deal.

I did the party, nailed the brie, and got my first rejection in advertising. I kept pressing Creative Resources to move me up and after a ton of NOs, I finally got the magic word: “fine” in 2020. I was officially a writer. And as a writer with no proof that I could actually write, they put me on the only projects that you’d trust someone who was just plunging toilets a week before to do: Radio and On-Hold messages.

I did those for months with Pizza Hut. Then in 2021, I got to write for spokesperson Craig Robinson for a package of spots. Knowing his and my own musical talents, I had the unoriginal idea to write a song for him to perform. “Chicken Wings” was born.

@noraeinhellll #holdmusic #pizzahut #wings #chickenwingsong #funny ♬ original sound – noraeinhellll

It lived on the phones of random franchisees for years until 2024. Someone heard the song, loved it, shared it on TikTok and enough people smashed that like button that it got millions of eyeballs and news coverage. I didn’t even know until my aunt reached out to me during paternity leave asking “Who made the Pizza Hut song?”

That led to the agency’s first Radio Mercury Award, a Cannes Shortlist and my mom telling all her Facebook friends that I’m a songwriter now.

All this to say, be nice to the guy in the mailroom. Even if they aren’t award-winning writers today, they could be tomorrow.

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MoonPie, ‘Brutality in the Totality’

MoonPie has designated itself the “Official Snack of the Eclipse” and sounds the bell for some wrestling hijinks. Via Tombras, the brand pits the sun against the moon in a rematch “billions of years in the making.” There’s a short film and three promo videos plus limited-edition “Solar Eclipse Survival Kits.” So, “Go out there and get some MoonPies for the eclipse, ’cause the sun is about to go down.”

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SunChips Focus on a Flavor Mashup

SunChips is giving away a limited-edition flavor mash-up—with pineapple habanero and black bean spicy gouda—during the 4 minutes and 27 seconds of the solar eclipse’s totality. SunChips partnered with astronaut and solar-phenomenon expert Kellie Gerardi for the event. Additionally, the PepsiCo-owned brand will donate $50,000 to support nutritious meals in schools. Also from Tombras.

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Perfect Bar Will Go Dark

Perfect Bar is “going dark” for the occasion, creating a new flavor: the chocolate brownie. Now available online, the protein snack aims to captivate consumers with its gluten-free bar, a dark-chocolate twist to fortify eclipse watchers.

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Go RVings’ Eclipse Glasses—Supersize Me? Watch in Style

Go RVing introduced giant eclipse glasses made to fit your fave vehicles. 

What? Noooo. Just a little brand joke for April Fool’s Day. Actually, Go RVing has created human-sized eclipse glasses available for free at selected RV dealerships along the eclipse’s path of totality.

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Pizza Hut, ‘Total Eclipse of the Hut’

On April 8, Pizza Hut is offering large pies for $12—carry-out, dine-in or delivery. With a shape “reminiscent” of the sun and moon, the brand hopes its pizzas will elevate viewing parties everywhere.

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Smoothie King, ‘Eclipse Berry Blitz’

The 20 oz. or larger beverage is available nationwide. Upon purchase, consumers who visit a Smoothie King location within the path of the eclipse will also receive a free pair of Smoothie King-branded eclipse glasses. Smooth. 

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Marcus Thomas, ‘Greetings From Sunny Cleveland’

The Cleveland ad agency created a tourism video especially for the solar eclipse, playfully reminding viewers that there’s much to see when you can actually see. The clip features some of the city’s top attractions, neighborhoods, and celebs…hidden by shadows.

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Spotify, The ‘Sonder’ Playlist

With Spotify users searching words like “eclipse” for music to match the occasion, its editorial department has curated the Sonder playlist. With music culled from albums like Interstellar and Blurred Moon, the playlist is filled with uplifting acoustic pianos, generous reverbs and expansive delays designed to make you feel “ethereal and out-of-body.” Oh, and the cool cover art comes from NASA. 

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Eight O’Clock, ‘Black Coffee Day’

Also on April 8, Eight O’Clock celebrates “Black Coffee Day.” Coincidence? The brand thinks not as it celebrates heroes who enjoy a quality cup. “One day, one solar eclipse, for coffee so good you’ll want to drink it black,” they say.

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KFC, ‘Bucket of Chicken Eclipse’

KFC, via Courage, launched ads depicting a KFC bucket where crispy fried chicken once sat. Look below. Does that image remind you of anything? The work will run across digital OOH in Niagara Falls—the No. 1 place to view the eclipse, as well as Canada, South Africa and France.