M.I.A. scores a mainstream hit

For the most part, I try to look past the consumerism and just be happy when a good artists gets a break... but I remember one instance that stung a little too much. Outback Steakhouse used Of Montreal's Wraith Pinned To The Mist And Other Games... which is an awesome song, except that they actually re-recorded it with new Australia-centric lyrics! Just awful. (Uh, no offense to any Australians...)

FIRST!

dang it

mates of state! yes! I saw them twice live and they are amazing. And I also love paper planes, but a while before it came out on these commercials. :]

It's amazing how I appreciate the tracks that Santogold and MIA contributed to commercials, however, I was dissapointed by Feist's. I guess it's because Santi and MIA are selling products out of their range... ie shoes and beer, while Feist was advertising ipods which led to mass downloading of her track. Now that I think about the ipod commercials, they give the artist's name and track title, which helps lazy listeners. The other commercials use the music to stimulate their product and someone with a good ear says, "Hey, isn't that a remix of 'L.E.S. Artistes' by Santogold."

All in all, I think it's a great way for an artist to get his/her music out there to people who can't catch them on the radio. Plus they get a little extra cash. But I suppose to my eyes and ears, there's a thin line between using your music for advertisement and selling out. (No, I dont think Feist has sold out. I mean, she's still in BSS right. That's her saving grace.)

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The 4 winged dear with the metal tongue knows what it takes to get things done.

because many artists you list in your post are some of my favs (feist, cat power, santogold, yael naim) who, I feel, have kind of sould out for the big bucks...
but that's because when you hear a little gem you feel like preserving it from the evil artistic bankruptcy that is (most of the time) advertising.

then again, commercials do help unknown act to get some deserved coverage and sell music. so it's a vicious/virtuous circle.
Latest example aroung here in France, The Do, awesome indie rock band (that you should check out) that topped the charts thanks to a notebook commercial !

goldfrapp had a commerical for nintendo. dats how i heard about them.

 

I don't really see what the big deal is about really talented artists using a commercial to break through. It would be one thing if they completely changed their style and music to become more mainstream, but they don't. I've been an M.I.A. fan for years, and when I saw the Pineapple Express commercial, my first thought was "excellent!  They picked a song that fits the commercial, and now perhaps I'll be able to hear one of my favorite songs on the radio!"  I "discovered" Feist on the IPod commercial, and hearing that one song made me want to hear more of her stuff, which led me to purchasing her CD. My money went towards someone who actually deserves it, and will continue to unless she actually sells out and goes pop (which she won't). As long as they keep making quality music, I don't see the problem.

Yeah, now your favorite artist that no one had heard of is accessable to the uneducated, underappreciating masses, but don't you think that the people who actually care about the art of music deserve to get paid for it? They certainly deserve it more than the Britneys and such that dominate US radio.

 

"No problem is insoluble, given a big enough plastic bag."

Old Navy has several songs from Canadian artist Lights to promote their clothing. While she hasn't broken through the charts yet, I know many a people who furiously looked for her songs to download them after hearing the commercials.

Here in the U.K., Sky One used it to promote the return of Bones.

M.I.A

 

She is definetly my favourite artist. I have loved her for years, i saw her live last year, Santogold was one of her support acts, ive been to many a gig in my time that I thought were amazing but that M.I.A gig was by far the best thing ive ever been to, EVER! Shes absolutely amazing.

i am typically not real fond of seeing people sell their tunes for commercials, although i understand the pull for an underground artist who could make more money to keep making music.

the one that REALLY disappoints is cat power doing a commercial for debeers.  i have NO love for them at all.  nasty bunch.  

I'm glad to see that M.I.A's starting to get some recognition--even though the song's inclusion in the ad for Pineapple Express won't compel me to see the movie. M.I.A's got a pretty potent message in her music, so the more people that hear it, the better.

The craziest thing about that cover: there's only 30 seconds of it. When fans first heard it, everyone anticipated it being a part of Cat Power's soon-to-be-released covers record, Jukebox, but no...her label (Matador) said that she went into the studio and recorded just the 30 seconds of the song that you hear in the commmercial. 

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"The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right..." - Judge Learned Hand, The Spirit of Liberty

i have definitely discovered artists via commercials .. i think its perfectly okay .. whats wrong with that?? any way you can get your music out to be heard my more people is fine i think. congrats to all of these people who have become more popular because of it ...

Similarly to Feist, CSS' "Music is my Hot Hot Sex" was used for the iPod Touch commercials. Before them, I was usually turned off by bands I liked licensing their songs for products (probably my inner music snob that wants to keep bands I dig "to myself") but these days, there are just fewer options for good bands/musicians to make money, so why not? It's not nearly as bad as Chris Brown and the whole Doublemint gum debacle, that's for sure.

AND, while I think M.I.A will make some rad clothes, hopefully her hit will make her realize how silly this whole "retirement" thing is. Ppssh..

I just discovered Saul Williams, who apparently has been around for a long time, but his music was new to me.  I appreciate that a Nike commercial introduced me to his music. 

As to what I think about artists selling their music to big corporations, it depends on the musician and their causes or lack thereof (in other words the Moby Quotient). Most of the time, I do not mind.  However, if they are anti-consumerists and they are hawking junk, it bothers me.  It also seems to cheapen the song, even when the artists are not hypocrites.  But as long as the non-hypocritical artists are ok with making their songs synonymous with Snickers, toilet paper, Hondas, etc., I really don't care (unless I really loved the song; then I will never forgive them).

It's interesting, in parts of Asia almost the only way to make money anymore is by doing celebrity endorsements of products or songs for commercials. What's funny is to see the list of long products (cell phones, sports drinks) advertised by one of the big Chinese or Taiwanese pop acts. It's great in my book--if this is the way to allow the artists to make money directly in the digital age, and in the face of admitted piracy, but without the record labels filing ridiculous lawsuits over downloads then I'm all for it.

The clue is in the title.

The only instances of 'selling out' that I can think of is if an artist completely changes their ethos and style purely to appeal to a large paying audience. Then again, it's their job.

The 3 sources of revenue for artist were merchandise - immediate revenue, recording royalties - mid-term revenue, and publishing (advertising, covers of their songs, mall music) - long term. Considering the decline in purchased music, the cheaper price, and the record companies taking a cut of merchandise, publishing is a valuable source of income for songwriters at least.

Without lending their music to advertising, Coldplay would never have broken the US market, although whether or not you consider that to be a good thing is up to you.

Hi Gina!

I would imagine that most indie artists are appreciative of any mainstream exposure, regardless of the outlet.  Think of how many people were only recently exposed to Tegan and Sara after one of their songs played on Grey's Anatomy.  Even if extra profits for the artists are a side bonus, it's nice for artists to just be heard.

(LOL, you know I had to give props to T&S).

 

When Saul Williams sold 'List of Demands' to NIKE.

I.

DIED.

Such a powerful song that REALLY sounded like a call for revolution...

to sell some damn shoes.

 

I got a dick like a mule...with a big dick.

My least favorite term is "selling out". It smacks of judgement. I make my living solely from the sale of my art. I have the right to eat, drink, have shelter, clothes, and whatever else just as anyone does without being judged by peeps who have no clue what I go through just to keep my head on straight, pay some bills, have just a little bit of fun and keep connecting to the creative source. Never judge. Musicians, song writers ............... leave then alone. Go judge yourself.

Thanks!  I was trying to remember the name of the artist that did that Ipod Nano commercial.  Feist!  I saw them on one of the mornings shows a few weeks ago and then forgot all abt it til recently.  Then I couldn't think of the name.

Just because the song is featured, doesn't mean people know who the artist is...so its really about trying to get your music out there as much as possible, and then following that with more publicity so the rest of your music can be heard.

Nothing wrong with that - its like an internship - at the end, you want to be able to land the big job!

Does anyone know the song that is featured in the new IKEA ad thats playing on the east coast in the U.S.? Has 2 cute ladies who are "room-mates" doing a dance off as they decorate their room. I love that song!!

Love never loses its way home. Remember...its about the journey, not the destination

 

Sure, I've discovered new artists in commercials. But more often, I get annoyed when suddenly the mainstream hitches a bandwagon of useless consumer sh*t to a brilliant tune by a artist that I've been spinning for months or years before the artist was worthy enough for notice and exploitation. Sometimes, I'm thrilled the artist will get to share their good message with a wider audience. Others, I just know will do something neat with it. The manatees will always be safe with Jimmy Buffett around. But Saul Williams selling sneakers? Blech.  

I understand that monetizing your creativity is difficult. But that doesn't mean artists have no responsibility and should be free from JUDGEMENT of their choices. Things are complicated, but that doesn't mean that ethical behaviour is irrelevant when considering a sponsor or patron.  I hope the evolution of technology and the marketplace helps artists make better choices so they become less dependent on corporations for promotion.  Regardless, some artists know how to get enough of their original intent into an ad that the integrity of the work remains. 

 

Advertising artists are artists too. Which is often why you may be 'surprised' to hear an artist you thought was obscure in a commercial for a product.

Because, if you have ever seen the inside of an advertising agency, they are all creative types - off the wall, creative, pushing the envelope every day, hip to every new thing. But they do it for money from corporations presumably because they must feed their families.

And they use the art or music or whatever medium to created commercials. Artists talk to artists all the time - in and out the advertising sector. So no surprise Cat Power would do that bit - probably a friend of hers was on the agency account...

I'm happy when a fairly unknown artiste that I've been listening for a while gets mainstream attention, it's only right that their music reach a wider audience, music shouldn't be subjected to just one particular audience.

Before reading this article I saw a Puma commercial with Paolo Nutini's "New Shoes", I was glad.

 

If someone decides to sell their songs to commercials, why should I care? At least then, if it's a good song, I can close my eyes and just listen to the music instead of watching the horridness that is commercials.

 

[Oh you little BITCH TROLL FROM HELL! - The ever so fantabulous Patsy Stone]

Oh, but of course they do.

I guess the private contractors on the Death Star should be avenged.

There is an abundance of absolutely excellent artistic advertising. And I'm sure there is absolutely divine collaboration on some of it. But I reckon it's hard to "brand" someone when it's so obvious you're hawking useless consumer sh*t. So raping indie music works!

There are also a lot of tropes industrial psychologists and advertisers use recklessly that are bad for you and me and our community. Artists who work for corporations which consistently fail to balance "public interest" and shareholder return responsibly are complicit. Somewhat. It's just common sense most companies "do their best" within "legal limits" to be "good." As someone who creates content, I have a responsibility for how it is utilized, and a right to choose whoever I want to share it with. I don't like the word sell-out. I prefere whore. And there are very few of those....maybe liz phair....

Leni Riefenstahl was a fine filmmaker and slavery kept food on the table...

 

 

 

 

Ok, I have loved M.I.A. ever since she started out..aka when no one knew who she was.

Like last summer when her last cd Kala came out.I used to play it all the time in my car with friends, and they would be like" what the hell are you listening to?" And now suddenly they can't get enough of it since hearing paper planes in the pineapple express commerical.

I dunno it's just kind of annoying. I have liked her forever..and now everybody is just discovering her. Maybe they're posers, maybe they're not. But regardless I bet the song ,"Paper Planes" will be the only song most of the new listeners will actually listen to.

I think the same will happen with Katy Perry. One hit wonder?

And yes,all this publicity may be good for the artists..but just like fashion comes and goes..so does just about everything else in this world. Fans come and go...question is who will continue to listen and support them, once there fifteen minutes of spotlight is up.

And lastly lol.. It just kind of sucks when you think you have found something that sets you apart from the crowd. That only you and a rare few love and appreciate. And then boom, everyone else in the free world does too.... I dunno just kinda sucks.

Wait I thought this M.I.A act was already mainstream. Her song Bucky Don Gun or something like that was getting air play on radio and the video was also playing on MTV like back in the beginning of 06. I remember cause we actually used that song for a routine we put up for the school. But idk maybe that wasn't mainstream enough. I guess using it in a commercial for a pothead movie is the new meaning of mainstream. oh well im just blabbering on damn im bored lol..ciao