WEA Angers Some With Marketing Of Charity CD

Music marketing can really backfire when someone tries to make a connection between and artist and events that simply isn’t valid. Commentator Bob Lefsetz certainly thinks WEA did just that when touting UK artist James Blunt as part of a US hurricane relief benefit CD. "In case you missed it, in last Sunday’s New York and Los Angeles "Times", there were FULL PAGE ads for (the CD) "Sound Response". The ad was split into three parts. In the middle there was a picture of a flooded New Orleans. On the bottom, there were the details of the record. And a notation that 100% of the revenue would be donated to the Red Cross. And, in the top third, in a giant white space, was the quote from James Blunt."

"I have always believed that music can help bring people together. It’s crucial now that we all unite to help our friends in the Gulf Coast put their lives back together." – James Blunt

"Makes me wanna puke," continues Lefsetz. "These pricks don’t care about charity. They just care about lining their own pockets. It’s these duplicitous fucks who cry that people are stealing the music. Even though they won’t sell it to them in a way they want to consume it. It’s these assholes who are shoving crap product down our throats in every medium known to man…"

OUCH! But Bob is 100% correct. Charity is about charity; not self-interest. Not until the labels are once again staffed by people who actually care about the music and the fans will they stop making these blunders. (Let’s not forget RIAA lawsuits, rootkits, and so much more…)