View the full transcript and bonus materials at: https://meaningfulimpact.com/podcast/... This pilot episode of the Meaningful Impact podcast tells the fascinating, behind-the-scenes story of one of the earliest cause marketing ads: Coca-Cola's 'Hilltop' commercial. Better known as 'I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing', the television ad is considered to be among the greatest commercials of all time. The backstory of the ad's production is nearly as epic.

Though the Mad Men finale credits the fictional Don Draper as Hilltop's creator, the real creative team was led by Bill Backer, an advertising agency executive who risked his career to get the ad done and on-air. Originally conceived as a radio jingle titled 'Buy the World a Coke', Backer envisioned a new 'big idea' for Coca-Cola, imagining the drink not merely as a refreshment but also as a catalyst for seeking commonality among diverse people. Along the way to creating a commercial about 'perfect harmony,' the production budget was blown, the actors cast as extras rioted, and the helicopter film crew at the hilltop was pelted with Coke bottles.

This episode of Meaningful Impact tells the incredible true story of how 'Hilltop' transformed from a scribble on a cafe napkin into an unrelatable radio jingle and a catastrophic film shoot that almost scuttled the TV commercial, were it not for the determination of Bill Backer and his account team. Their courage and perseverance eventually yielded a global sensation: a television ad emblematic of its times and a best-selling song that topped the pop charts and was sung by choirs around the world.

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MEANINGFUL IMPACT PODCAST

Get inspired by stories about purpose-driven leaders, like Bill Backer, who overcome enormous challenges to achieve a triple win: a win for a philanthropic cause; a win for their companies; and a win for their project teams. Each episode of the Meaningful Impact podcast reveals surprising, behind-the-scenes stories about the development of award-winning advertising, cause marketing campaigns, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

▶️ Listen on YouTube Music:    • Coca-Cola: "I'd Like to Teach the Wor...  
▶️ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
▶️ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2xVV...
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➡️ Episode transcripts: https://meaningfulimpact.com/episodes/

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