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Grammy attendees have it pretty great by awards show standards. Not only are they front row for some amazing live music acts, but they also get to nab lots of swag at the event's Official Talent Gift Lounge. Sponsored by Japanese cosmetic brand MTG, the tented area just outside the Staples Center was filled will all sorts of goodies from a range of brands both well and lesser-known.
Represented was Solstice, whose sunglasses were snapped up by celebs including Mumford and Sons' Marcus Mumford (who reportedly picked out a pair for his stylish wife Carey Mulligan), Gibson guitars, Devicewear iPad and iPhone cases, Tequila Bonita and much more.
Of note was merchandise by funk-soul legend Chaka Khan, who has two amazingly-named product lines: Chakalates, a selection of dark chocolate bon bons, and Khana Sutra, an assortment of scented soy wax candles. As explained by the booth's minder, Chaka enjoys a healthy lifestyle but likes to indulge a bit (hence the chocolates) and she likes to bring candles on her many travels (hence Khana Sutra).
Elsewhere, Diet Pepsi was dispensing drinks; ionic, ultrasonic toothbrush maker Jäger was giving out dental hygiene devices; sexy swimsuit label D*Milikah was gifting bikinis and Luden's Soothing Throat Drops was handing out lozenges. According to a Luden's rep, Michael Jackson swore by the drops and preferred to take them dissolved in a glass of hot water.
A popular stop, according to staffers, was the New Era booth, where they'd already doled out caps to The Wanted, Zac Brown Band, event host LL Cool J, AJ from Backstreet Boys and Sting, who selected a dark gray fedora. Speaking of LL, his wife of many years Simone Smith was actually a vendor at the lounge, gifting her statement-making jewelry. See all the offerings in our behind-the-scenes gallery, above.
· Chaka Khan [Official Site]
· Grammys 2013: Rihanna Scores in Alaïa, CBS Memo a Joke [Racked]