3x Thursday:

Music For The Masses...(Propaganda Style)



1. What do you think about car companies using popular music (take Cadillac and them using Led Zepplin) in their commercials? Do you think it's right for them to take a well-known song and use it for their own profit? If the artist is okay with it, then it's no problem for me. However, once the artist loses control, as the surviving Beatles have, then their discontent is duly noted and it's sad for me to hear Revolution associated with Nike shoes. McCartney and Starr have had their problems with Michael Jackson licensing The Beatles catalog to the highest bidder.



2. What is the trend lately with electronica music (triphop and breakbeat type stuff) being in commercials? Do you recognize any of it? Does it bother you? I can readily understand the use of electronica music in commercials. This is what helped artists like Moby gain recognition, acceptance and respect. For the artist, doing commercials is a potential goldmine and can lead to huge profits. It doesn't bother me at all.



3. Depending on what the product is, do you think that companies use certain music to cater to certain age groups? Does it work? Is it morally correct? Why/Why not? Oh yeah, companies have demographics for each product and they know exactly what they're doing when it comes to music. Want to cater to the boomer, play some Dylan, Beatles, Mamas and Papas and it works, too. Commercials wouldn't be as effective without music.



Bonus Question for Comments: For the music geeks out there: What's the meaning of this week's title for the 3x Thursday? (correct answers receive brownies with icing) Would Depeche agree this is music for the masses? In the context of Corporate America and marketing, the music associated with a specific product is to sell to the masses.