Virgin To Be Sued
That title can be a little misleading – but we are talking about, the music related, Virgin Records here.
The Smashing Pumpkins have taken offense to Virgins defamation of their “artistic integrity” by using their name in an advertising campaign with Pepsi and Amazon.
The Pumpkins parted ways with Virgin back in 2000 but the record label still has rights to the band’s digital music. Is this more about money and less about “artistic integrity”? I don’t think so.
Pop bands/artists have lead the way in the last decade in marketing and merchandising – selling their souls and everything else to gain more money and more publicity. From key-rings and posters to dolls and clothing – not to mention perfume and aftershave – there is barely a product stone left unturned by the machine. Virgin Records have entered a deal with Pepsi along the same lines.
If musicians where real artists, in the true sense of the word, they would be of the mindset that they love what do and will never stop – i.e They will release music until they drop. Instead we have “musicians” who see their “careers” as being a flash in the pan. They aim to make money as fast as they can. That’s all fine and well – I am a capitalist as well – but the issue I have is that this mentality makes them lazy. I could rhyme of a hundred bands that have had 1 hit album (i.e 3 good singles) only to disappear before talk of a second album arises. They have made their money – so have little incentive to continue.
It is refreshing then to see the Smashing Pumpkins, after 12 albums, continue to fly their flag. Their website states the following :
“We fought hard for the right to be in control of how our music is used, to avoid situations like this kind of crass commercialism and exploitation. Labels like EMI are no longer running the show, and we won’t be bullied by those in the ‘old’ music business who consider every artist to be easily expendable. Those days are over.” - Billy Corgan
Right on Billy – fight the fight.
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