One thing that grates on my ears is hearing rock music classics used as sound-bite jingles for commercials. Is that how the younger generation will recognize, say, Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll,” as an anthem for Cadillac? Sad.
Here’s an interesting exception to the rule: Gravel-voiced singer Tom Waits, who has a policy of not doing commercials, recently turned down repeated offers to do an ad for General Motors, which proceeded to hired a soundalike and run the ads anyway in Europe.
Waits is now suing GM and the ad agency involved. “Apparently the highest compliment our culture grants artists nowadays is to be in an ad — ideally naked and purring on the hood of a new car. I have adamantly and repeatedly refused this dubious honor,” Waits said. “While the court can’t make me active in radio, I am asking it to make me radioactive to advertisers.”
Maybe there are a few rock stars who haven’t sold out entirely?
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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