CPG: Slice Soda

From fax machines to FM: Slice’s full-send soda comeback.

Video — Turning up the volume on nostalgia: How Slice Soda built a real FM station with AI.

The Stakes

Slice wasn’t just another healthy soda launch: it was a comeback. Born in 1984 and beloved through the ‘80s and ‘90s, Slice had the real fizz, flavor, and nostalgia Gen Z and Millennials crave without the sugar crash. But entering a $1.5B “better-for-you” soda market dominated by Poppi and Olipop (and fueled by Pepsi’s $1.95B Poppi acquisition) meant Slice needed to crash the party loudly at the start of soda season. And do it with a fraction of the budget.

The Friction

Poppi and Olipop made “regular soda” the enemy, shaming the inner kid out of soda lovers. Slice’s challenge: break through category noise, avoid playing in the same guilt-trip lane, and win love from health-conscious consumers and nostalgic soda superfans. On top of that, distribution was ramping, meaning the brand needed national buzz before the cans even hit every shelf.

The Shift

BarkleyOKRP + MissionOne Media embraced Slice’s superpower: real nostalgia and put it through a retro-refreshed lens. Partnering with Google’s AI Creative Lighthouse Program, we turned a “that’s impossible” idea into reality: a real analog FM radio station, 106.3 The Fizz FM, spinning “yesterday’s pop hits that didn’t exist until now.”

– Real radio nostalgia: DJ banter, Pop 40 countdowns, and cheeky “Slice Advice” call-ins.
– Modern AI muscle: Google’s Chirp, Gemini, Imagen 3, Veo, and MusicFX generated lyrics, artists, backstories, album art, and music videos—guided entirely by human creative intent.
– Full 360 rollout: LA takeovers with OOH in high-density spots like Hollywood and Crypto.com Arena, influencer “fax machine” unboxings, thrifted merch drops, retro vending machines, lo-fi YouTube streams, and geo-targeted social.

The Lift

Slice launched the first-ever AI-generated FM radio station as a brand campaign in less than a month, turning a healthy soda launch into a cultural stunt.

– OOH Impact: Millions of impressions across LA’s busiest streets and landmarks.
– Earned Media: Coverage from Ad Age, People, Fast Company, and more, extending reach nationwide.
– Social Buzz: Influencer content drove high engagement with a new generation—plus nostalgic “I remember Slice!” love from original fans.
– Brand Love: Reinforced Slice as the only OG soda in the healthy soda game—celebrating the carefree past while serving today’s better-for-you expectations.