4 media relations tips from YouTube’s most popular video ever

Gangnam Style’ has nearly a billion views on YouTube—and it offers lessons for people who pitch the media for a living.

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Remove the sunglasses, peel back the over-the-top suit, and disregard the image of him in his underwear on a toilet: PSY, the mastermind behind the painfully catchy “Gangnam Style,” and that crazy horse dance, is a media-grabbing genius.

Groups as varied as college marching bands to Mitt Romney impersonators have imitated the video. He’s spawned a whole new era of “Gangnam Style” gifs. He’s galloped (literally) with Ellen DeGeneres and Britney Spears, and even managed to score a slot at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The guy is an influencer. His music video—which is now the most viewed video on YouTube—can teach PR pros a thing or two about communicating with the media.

Stay relevant.

Beneath the surface of the seemingly mindless song is smart social commentary about an affluent Seoul neighborhood with which many locals have a love-hate relationship.

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