The Prostitution of MUSIC
The prostitution of music. Look around it’s happening everywhere but no more than on TV these days, specifically on commercials. I more than anyone love a good commercial, one that shows creativity to get the message out in 30 or 60 seconds. So when I hear an advertiser using a hit song from the 60’s 70’s and even songs that are on the charts right now, I think..COP-OUT. Looking for the easy way to get attention. Shame on the artists and writers of these great songs for PIMPING their art form be used to hawk everything from shavers to cadillacs. A friend of mine thought he would try to get the rights to a song for a PSA to help the victims in New Orleans. The song wasn’t even a BIG hit but it was only on the charts for about a month back in the early 70’s. He contacted the writer and was told 15,000.00US should cover the rights for 13 weeks.
All I can think of is that these burnt out writers and musicians from back in the day are just sitting there coming up with creative ways to say, “You want Fries with that”, when all of a sudden they realize that they can make some pretty good coin by selling the right to their music.
Advertisers have to realize that when a hit song is used in a commercial the listener is usually trying to figure out the name of the song and who sang it. What’s even worst is that the voice over sometimes is battling to be heard over the lyrics of the song. The listener is either trying to hear the lyrics of the song and the voice over is in the way or hear the commercial and the lyrics keep getting in the way. Then after the commercial, the one one thing that should be heard isn’t. The message and even the name of the product is LOST.
Lets look at a few of the songs and artists that are now being pimped out and if you can think of anymore please leave a comment.
Venus….selling shavers
(I Just Wanna) Celebrate…. Selling Crackers and some guy selling beer to pubs. TWO DIFFERENT ADVERTISERS ARE USING THE SAME SONG.
Led Zeppelin … Selling Cadillac
Fiest …selling Apple (granted, Apple made the hit for her)
Natasha Bedingfield … Selling Hair Products
A note to advertisers, I know that you’ve been putting hit’s under commercials for decades and it’s not going to stop. If you want to continue having your message lost…you go brother!! All the power to you. If you think that using a hit will fill your listener with good memories just remember that they will be thinking of those good memories and NOT your product!! But please get you’re own music or jingles made up. It might cost you a bit more but…you own the music and you’re creating work. I hope this post gave you something to sing about. Now I have to go and use the “Theme from Shaft” under my voice over for a car dealer…lol
Thanks for the read and comments are always welcome.
Bryan Cox
March 14, 2008 at 5:16 pm
[...] bigbry ’s post on The Prostitution of MUSIC caught my attention today. Here’s a quick excerpt of what was presented: [...]
March 14, 2008 at 5:22 pm
[...] admin wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptWhat’s even worst is that the voice over sometimes is battling to be heard over the lyrics of the song. The listener is either trying to hear the lyrics of the song and the voice over is in the way or hear the commercial and the lyrics … [...]
March 16, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Well I appear to be responding to these posts out of order, but as I was formerly the #1 v.o. curmudgeon on the internet, I have to ask; Is it just me or is Bryan resembling Andy Rooney more and more each day?
And what is this fasciunation with prostitution? Read the next post.
I’m the first guy to toss my hat in the ring and say “Things suck and they’re going to get worse.” AS creative folks trying to ply a living in a vast ocean of wannabe voice performers, we’re lucky every time someone spots us treading water and tosses us a life preserver.
Now, AS fortunate as I have been in my career to have had some years making pretty darn good money and having people ask me on a regular basis “Is that you doing the ovice for the Blah Blah Blah commercial?”, I have never had a roadie. Nor have I ever perfromed a voiceover and have awoman toss me a room key or leave a pair of undergarments in the recording booth for me.
I’ve never had the pleasure of standing before 50,000 people in Madison Square Garden and say “New York City, Are you ready to rock and roll?”
With the exception of the Rolling Stones and a few other musicians who somehow seem to have cheated both time and the Billboard Charts, there are thusands of these fellows who have theri choice of pumping gas in Encino and talking about the good old days or what we may call “selling out”.
As a voice actor, it’s doubtful you’ll ever see me on VH1’s “Where are they Now?” And god willing, I’ll still be talking about your grocer’s frozen food section 20 years from now.
The only problem I have when I hear one of these songs being played fo commercial purposes is that they could have used me for the v.o.
The nice thing about never having been a rock star is never having to be an ex-rock star.