Musicians "selling out" by licensing their music

[ronhonda]

who cares if they make some money from cd sales or selling their songs for movies, commercials, or whatever else.

It boggles my mind how some of you guys can't understand how others get upset if an artist they like lends their music to advertising. I, personally dont get mad, but i certainly understand how people do.

Sure "Get all the money you can" is a valid thought but do you not see the crossing of the line from art to commercialism? When someone's "art" gets used to sell a product or merchandise it cheapens it in a way, imo.

I'm playing devil's advocate here because it's not a big deal to me. But think about this... How about you hear AC/DC's "Back in Black" used in a commercial to sell Old Navy clothes? Or a Fleetwood Mac song used to sell tampons. Sure, they got "paid" but now for a lot of people that see the commercial repeatedly they have that association in their heads. When they hear that song they think of tampons.

There has always been a divide between art and the sleaziness that is advertising and, sure, it's not like the artists are writing the songs with a product in mind but to say "yes, i will let my song be used in your commercial to sell your product" is still and endorsement of sorts.... and that angers some people.... just saying.

[Jacktion]

Having a song that I love attached to some shitty product would probably piss me off, but how can I fault an artist for doing that?

1) If they're not a huge act, this could be a good way to help them gain attention.

2) Look around this forum. How many people are downloading music without paying for it? If the musicians can make up for some of that lost revenue by using their songs in commercials, then more power to them.

As a songwriter, I wouldn't rent my song out to just any product. But if they started flashing some big green at me? Fuck man, I'm poor. I'd probably do it.