“We need to check out the last place that the serial killer would have been, and I think I know where that is. Come on let’s get in my Ford Escape hybrid and go.” Lines like this are becoming more and more common in TV shows, and movies these days. What about music though? We have yet to really see product placement in music. Would it bother you to know your favorite artist got paid (an undisclosed amount) every time that a song with a product placement got played on the radio?
There are studies out there for televisions with PVR’s (personal video recorders) that show about 80% of people who record TV shows skip the commercials. That’s natural though right? I mean the idea of getting a recorder is record content when you’re gone, and to skip the commercials. I can’t imagine that those studies would make advertisers happy, and thus the seeming need to find other places to put advertisements.
Music is a new frontier for product placement. Although I doubt it will stay that way for much longer. There have already been at several attempts, McDonald’s probably being one of the most well known.
“McDonald’s, the fast food chain has offered to pay rappers up to $5 every time a song name-checking the Big Mac is played.“ taken from BBC News
On top on many, many other concerns comes the sticky situation of does this now mean the advertiser has to, or rather gets to, approve the lyrics by the artist? Who is really writing the songs if the advertiser can change the song to “convey the product in a positive light”?
“And the Grammy winner for best song this year goes to…. Coca Cola.” Now that’s a scary picture.
I guess the real question is whether being paid to write certain things (products) into songs compromises the integrity of the song or the band. If it doesn’t then no other discussion is even necessary. However if it does, and I think it does, then there are a lot questions and concerns that get raised.
What do you think, is product placement in songs a good idea, or not? Or does it even matter, does anyone care about this topic?
Unlike TV and movies, music isn’t visual, to some people at least. If a product is mentioned it would be up to the listener to make the image in their mind. If the lines weren’t for name brand products how would the listener even know if was for a product? I would rather have product placement stick to TV and movies where sometimes its even overdone.
i think alot of times people are hopping when you hear “big mac” or “coke” that the brand is so popular that the first thing you think of is the product and suddenly you need to to stop and grab a coke