Blur Manager Hits Out at Duffy Diet Coke Ad

Blur's artist manager Chris Morrison has spoken out bands licensing their tracks to adverts at annual music industry conference Midem in Cannes, France, reports the BBC.

Morrison warns artists, "I think you have to be very, very careful about how you associate with brands," as there is a "great danger of music being corporatised."

Singling out two campaigns as examples, Morrison hit out at Duffy and Robbie Williams, exclaiming, "I think Duffy's Coca-Cola ad was abysmal and I think Robbie Williams on T Mobile was terrible," adding, "I don't think either of those two things did any favours to the artists' careers or the way they're perceived."

Blur themselves made oodles of cash from '97 hit single 'Song 2' through its use on multiple adverts, but Morrison said even though cash was good the band did turn down one inappropriate deal.

He explained, "Northrop Grumann, which is an American defence contractor, got in touch with us and asked if they could use the song for their trade shows to promote the next generation of stealth fighters. We thought that was probably inappropriate. The money was great but we turned it down."

Hip-hop producer Pharrell Williams, also speaking at Midem, had earlier said that getting advert licensing was a great way for new acts to launch their careers, and advised bands to approach ad agencies themselves.
The full, ahem, glory of Duffy's ad can be viewed below