QUESTION OF THE WEEK: IN LIGHT OF IRON MAIDEN SELLING OFF HALF OF THEIR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, ALONG WITH THEIR MASCOT EDDIE’S IMAGE, HOW DO FEEL ABOUT BANDS THAT SELL OFF THEIR (ENTIRE) CATALOGS TO AN OUTSIDE SOURCE?

I am personally torn about this issue.

If a musician, or band, is struggling financially, and has unexpected expenses, such as health issues, then I could understand the need to sell. However, if a band, or musician, is still successful and making money without financial struggles, I am less inclined to look favorably upon it.

Unless there is a way, where the band, or musician, can put a stipulation in the contract that they have a say where their music, likeness, etc. maybe used, once that outside entity takes over the intellectual property, they can easily cheapen a band’s or musician’s legacy, by over saturating the market with their music. For example, using their songs in TV commercials, movies, video games, radio jingles, etc.

Long before selling off their wares, KISS, decided to market the heck out of themselves all on their own. So, selling off their catalog, came as little surprise.

Finally, I remember hearing both Judas Priest‘s Hellion, and You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’, on car commercials, and it made me wince. But, then again, I have heard lots of our music in Super Markets. Just yesterday, I heard Ratt‘s Way Cool Junior in Stop And Shop, and that also made me cringe-LOL! Nothing like hearing arena rock while shopping for grapes.