This, is a fine example of the inherent problems that go along with the ideas of using music as a loss leader to enhance brand integrity and, using musicians to pimp products and represent corporate interests.
British trio South have become embroiled in a legal battle with the cigarette brand Camel over a misunderstanding that occurred during their recent performance at SXSW.
The band, who have risen to success in the states over the course of their fifteen year career, agreed to headline a corporate show for Camel Cigarettes at this year’s SXSW festival for around £10,000.
However after seeing a female audience member at the gig with a Camel tattoo branded on her arm, Joel, one of the two lead singers of the band, joked through the microphone, “Don’t smoke, it’s bad for you”.
Though just intended as a flippant remark, South were told by Camel representatives when they left the stage that the comment meant they wouldn’t be paid, and have come home to face a serious legal battle.
Guys-GUYS!; I thought we covered this at the last secret meeting. In order for us musicians to take advantage of the digital wonderland, in order to access the panacea, we are going to have to learn to keep our thoughts, feelings, opinions and ideas to ourselves. We can’t just continue to go around saying “what’s on our minds” anymore. We aren’t special. We aren’t personalities. We are there to do a job, make corporations acceptable to mass audiences of young consumers with disposable dollars. This means, quit joking around, cut the banter and, keep…your…damn…mouth…SHUT!
What’s worse, South, you did it at the very showcase for the new business model, SXSW! What’s even worse is, that at this pointless gathering of musical lemmings, the world’s largest example of the sleazy club owner’s oldest trick in the book, the battle of the bands, you were getting paid for Chrissake! Of the 335,643 bands that appeared at SXSW this year, the vast, Vast majority were seen at after parties attempting to hustle 30 something chicks with frosted hair and a few too many Jaeger Bombs under their fab accessories for gas money home.
Who knows, maybe some good will come out of this. Maybe, some young bands will see what happened and use this as an example of what not to do.
Keep you guitars in tune, keep you hair combed (product please!), smile and play a short version of your MP3 that you are giving away on MySpace. Keep your clever ideas to yourself and…
Meet The New Boss.
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Tags: battle of the bands, camel cigarettes, corporate interests, digital wonderland, lemmings, panacea
Ovidiu - GuitarFlame.com wrote,
Well, indeed, sometimes you need to keep your thoughts for yourself. Especially in this kind of situations when there are so many things involved. Just that in some cases…instincts get first…
Ovidiu - GuitarFlame.com’s last blog post..Left Handed Dunlop guitar picks, homage to Albert King
Link | April 1st, 2008 at 4:26 am