Licensing music is rarely a simple procedure, as every writer must give his or her permission for a song to be used before anything goes on air. Now most of us know this, and you’d certainly expect brands and public facing organisations to know this to avoid any PR disasters. Thanks to companies like soundlounge, most people are indeed aware, but there are a few out there that march blindly into a PR minefield when they use music without getting clearance. These people, believe it or not, are politicians.
Some of you may be aware of the outrage experienced by the band Keane when their song was used in a Tory launch in 2010. The year earlier The Manic Street Preachers got the lawyers involved when the BNP used one of their tracks.
Now it’s M83’s turn to get the hump. This is thanks to French right wing party Le Front National using “Midnight City” in a video created by the president of the Front National’s youth electoral support committee. Anthony Gonzalez of M83 was quoted saying:
“I am appalled at their lack of artistic respect. At the very least, artists should be asked if they agree… or disagree… with being associated with a certain image or brand. Even the most commerce-minded advertising agencies and brands do so.”
To read the full article and watch a clip of the video, click HERE.
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