Comments (33)

1. Yeah, the Beatles actually don’t own their catalog anymore, if I’m not mistaken. I believe that Michael Jackson owns it, which might explain why he’s still able to jaunt around the world and spend money like water.

   posted by bonnie on 12-12-2008 at 4:32 pm

2. Jacko actually only owns half of it (I believe Sony owns the other half, which he sold to them), and may soon be forced to sell it. Paul McCartney was outbid by Michael Jackson years ago for the rights to the Beatles catalogue. Apparently, Sir Paul was understandably rather upset.

   posted by Amy D on 12-12-2008 at 4:55 pm

3. I remember the beginning of the classic rock landslide into commercial sell-outage. The one-two punch happened around the same, with “Instant Karma” by Lennon shilling for Nike, and “Fire” by Jimi Hendrix doing it for Pontiac Firebirds. (That was a good investment, eh?)

   posted by Johnny Cat on 12-12-2008 at 5:00 pm

4. Marty Bandier heads Sony/ATV publishing. He is in charge of the Beatles publishing catalog and has the last word. The Beatles — including estates — get no say. As long as the original master is not used, e.g. it’s a cover and it doesn’t sound like them — The Beatles are powerless.

   In order to use the actual, original recording of the songs, The Beatles permission would be required. That’s why you never see the original masters used except in specific circumstances (like Beatles Love in Vegas).

   posted by fan on 12-12-2008 at 5:12 pm

5. Links to the advertisements, or it didn’t happen.

   posted by Chad Cloman on 12-12-2008 at 5:14 pm

6. how can the monkees be sellouts?…they were’nt even a real band. They were created for a TV show. That would be like saying N’Sync or the Backstreet Boys are sellouts. All those guys sold out once they joined a manufactured band

   posted by andy on 12-12-2008 at 5:16 pm

7. The only one that bothers me is Of Montreal rerecording one of their songs with new lyrics for Outback Steakhouse. It’s too distracting when I hear the original version–I no longer hear a song, just a commercial.

   posted by erak on 12-12-2008 at 5:50 pm

8. I especially love that a Spinal Tap song (Gimme Some Money) was used for some investment firm’s commercials. I forget what firm, though. It made me laugh every time.

   posted by Rachel on 12-12-2008 at 7:11 pm

9. I thought there was some 20 year rule on using songs without a fee or something? I thought that was why there was a rash on 80′s songs in commercials lately.

   posted by Karen on 12-12-2008 at 7:18 pm

10. Yeah.

    Paul McCartney gave interviews about Jacko, and mimics his voice hilariously.

    LOVE PAUL.

    posted by K on 12-12-2008 at 7:19 pm

11. Has anyone seen the Hidden Valley Ranch commercial with a “Pleasant Valley Sunday” sound-alike in it.
    3M-good. salad dressing-NO WAY!

    posted by holly on 12-12-2008 at 7:53 pm

12. I’m new to this website, so I hate to be critical, but most bands have no control over the majority of their catalogue and where the songs appear. They’re also unlikely to see any money from this usage either. It’s a hellashame.

    posted by K2 on 12-12-2008 at 7:56 pm

13. Does anyone remember the Target ad that ran a few years ago that used the Misfit’s “American Nightmare”.

    I remember being so disappointed that it had come to that.

    posted by Brian on 12-12-2008 at 9:37 pm

14. As a music snob and one-time aspiring musician, I contemplated this earlier today before coming across this.

    It’s certainly interesting that an unknown artist with a worthwhile message is often wished success, and those early fans hope to see him/her/them become the next “big thing,” and offer their support and encouragement at every step of the way. Fast forward 20 years, and if you become too big, you’re labeled as a “sellout,” even by those same early fans. My favorite band’s songs have been used in car commercials, something I NEVER thought I’d hear from them. After scratching my head, I decided I’m OK with it. They’ve achieved a level of success that they deserve.

    It’s a doubled-edged sword. Go out, play your heart out. We wish you success, but not TOO MUCH success. We wish you recognition, but not TOO MUCH recognition.

    And remember that this list is mostly comprised of songs that were written and recorded long before the said “sellout.” They weren’t crafted in today’s over-commercialized industry that throws true artistic pursuit out the window in deference to the bottom line. These are songs that have stood the test of time, mostly. I think it’s a great way for a “mature” artist to maintain recognition and keep their music in front of an audience.

    posted by Denver Roadie on 12-12-2008 at 9:45 pm

15. I remember when I was a kid and saw the Nike “Revolution” ad, where they used the actual recording of the Beatles. It was the first time I had heard of something of theirs that wasn’t “Fab Four” era. Blew my mind. Had to have more. The ad also had a profound effect on John Fogerty who threw his tv out the window of his hotel room. The Beatles NEVER would’ve okay’d that ad.

    posted by Pete on 12-12-2008 at 9:47 pm

16. You have overlooked the best one of all.
    Creedence – “Fortunate Son” for Levi Jeans. I thought it was funny because in the commercial it seems so patriotic but the song has the opposite meaning. They left out the “it’s not me.”

    posted by Kev in GA on 12-12-2008 at 10:46 pm

17. Worst sellout of all, “Volunteers” by Jefferson Airplane for ETrade. If you had told the Airplane in 1969 that they’d be using this song to advertise a stock brokerage, they’d have probably have committed mass suicide instead.

    posted by Inconcievable on 12-12-2008 at 11:50 pm

18. I think it’s hilarious when they use a couple of lines from a song that’s about drugs and/or sex and use it to sell something “wholesome”. My current fave uses “I Want Candy” by Bow Wow Wow, a song about sex sung by a then 14 year old girl who was naked on the album cover. But I loathe it when I band I love “sells out”. Queen for Dr. Pepper & some credit card company, Led Zeppelin for Cadillac and The Who for CSI:NY.

    posted by kani on 12-13-2008 at 1:09 am

19. I’m surprised The Who isn’t on that list. Happy Jack for Hummer?

    posted by N on 12-13-2008 at 3:09 am

20. I remember the Buzzcocks “What do I get” on an old car commercial. More recently, the worst of all, a car commercial with the Clash’s cover of Toots & the Maytals “Pressure Drop.”

    posted by broc on 12-13-2008 at 4:54 am

21. I think we need a music publishing Czar in the cabinet.

    posted by Nathumus Maxumus on 12-13-2008 at 9:08 am

22. MXPX was actually in a Pepsi commercial as themselves.

    Also, Aerosmith had a video game, and a Disney roller coaster. Is that selling out? Close enough for me.

    posted by Bob on 12-13-2008 at 10:42 am

23. My favourite is when the company involved misses the point. Like Janis Joplin’s anti-materialist song being used by the same Mercedes Benz she’s mocking, or the number of people who use Iggy pop songs about heroin addiction to shill for cars and vacations. Maybe that isn’t selling out; it’s getting one over on the man.

    posted by Scott on 12-13-2008 at 1:14 pm

24. Ugh…Beatles and Wal Mart? That is indeed a horrifying thought. Such good music, and such an evil company. :-P

    posted by Dawn on 12-13-2008 at 4:15 pm

25. i love when songs about heroin are used for commericals. it makes me laugh. i like to think iggy pop cashed that check with a smile on his face. “suckers”

    posted by kat on 12-14-2008 at 3:11 pm

26. I second N’s nomination of Happy Jack and the Who. Not to mention the CSI franchises…I hope Daltry/Townsend enjoy the fact that David Caruso and his sunglasses are seared into their catalogue. As the mighty David C. might retort, “That’s music to my ears.” Whaaaaaa!!!!!!

    posted by Matt on 12-15-2008 at 8:30 am

27. Aerosmith has sold out many times over. And it’s impossible for the Monkees to have sold out since they weren’t even a real band. They were hired as actors/musicians for roles on a TV show. That’s like saying Driveshaft sold out when they let the producers of Lost use their music on the show.

    posted by Craig on 12-15-2008 at 9:05 am

28. I can’t let this one go – The Monkees WERE a real band. Yes, they were 4 completely separate people who were brought together to be a gimmicky part of a show that was about a band but they ended up becoming an actual performing band even AFTER the show ended and YES THEY PLAYED THEIR OWN INSTRUMENTS! Sorry, I get a little worked up and have to defend my boys.

    posted by Lainey on 12-15-2008 at 6:11 pm

29. Office DEPOT sold out Alice Cooper, not OfficeMax.

    posted by Richard on 12-17-2008 at 8:57 am

30. It was actually Office Depot that sold out Cooper. Not Office Max.

    posted by Jillian on 12-17-2008 at 9:02 am

31. THE SHINS- MCDONALDS. CASE CLOSED.

    posted by steve on 1-3-2009 at 12:55 am

32. How about when Ray Manzerek of the Doors wrote a novel called “the poet in exile”, about a magical 60′s burnout rock star who faked his death and has actually been living on some uncharted island for thirty years and now plans a comeback. Ghostwritten I’m sure. Regardless, the whole concept of the novel is worse than selling out the music, that is selling out the mythology.

    posted by John Densmore on 1-3-2009 at 1:00 am

33. This might have been said (didn’t read EVERY single comment)
    But most bands don’t have ANY contorl over their recorded music.
    This is why you see alot of bands create their own record labels so that way they control their product right from start to finish and have a say/final decisions in what gets done with their music.
    And yea, there’s some… length of time on when music lisences/copyrights run out. As it seems I keep hearing ramones songs in EVERYTHING these last year or two. (some car commercial comes to mind I don’t remember what company but i KNOW blitzkrieg bop is playin at the end of it).

    posted by MergedLoki on 1-27-2009 at 1:57 am

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