| Subject: RIAA teen criminals to air on superbowl |
Author:
Betty
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 17:23:59 02/01/04 Sun
In reply to:
Betty
's message, "RIAA & goofy laws." on 17:09:22 02/01/04 Sun
Island 'outlaws' to star in Super Bowl commercial
Sued for illegally downloading music, Island teens will trumpet Pepsi's legal contest on TV
Sunday, February 01, 2004
By DOUG AUER
If you download music illegally, you could get slapped with a lawsuit by the Recording Industry Association of America, the trade group that represents the U.S. recording industry.
And, you could possibly end up in a commercial to be aired today during the Super Bowl.
Such is the ironic tale of four Staten Islanders who will be seen in a 45-second spot bought by Pepsi-Cola, debuting while the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers vie for the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The Island teens, along with 20 others sued by the RIAA -- which accuses them of unauthorized downloads -- are identified in the commercial only as a "few of the kids sued for downloading music free off the Internet."
The RIAA has filed 914 lawsuits since it began cracking down in September, including 532 new cases brought earlier this year.
"This commercial is part of a solution to illegal downloading," said David DeCecco, a spokesman for Pepsi-Cola North America, headquartered in Purchase, N.Y.
The humorous ad, expected to be seen by almost 90 million viewers, tosses a wry smile in the RIAA's direction, while simultaneously offering teens a chance to still get downloads free.
PEPSI-iTUNES TEAM UP
The promotion teams the soft drink giant with Apple's iTunes, the leading on-line music seller, said DeCecco.
During the two-month promotion, one in three bottle caps out of 300 million bottles of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and Sierra Mist will contain the chance to win a song, this time without consequential legal action.
Annie Leith, 14, of Meiers Corners, is a partial star in the ad, which features Green Day doing a remake of the 1966 Bobby Fuller aptly-titled hit, "I Fought the Law." In the song, as in reality, the law won.
Miss Leith can be seen in the tongue-in-cheek ad holding a Pepsi and defiantly proclaiming: "We are still going to download music for free off the Internet." Cue the announcer, who adds, "Announcing the Pepsi iTunes Giveaway."
Her sister, Maggie, 17, is also in the commercial, featured in a group shot with other girls jesting about being "evil Internet criminals."
The Leith sisters, along with their younger brother, Eric, were sued for $12 million by the RIAA, but settled for $3,000. The pair plan to use some of their ad fees to help defer the cost of the settlement.
Flown to Los Angeles Jan. 16 for the commercial's shooting at the Alexandria Hotel, the two enjoyed being the center of attention on the set.
Maggie said she felt "famous like a star or a real model" with hair and make-up artists fussing over her.
Annie and her siblings concede they did wrong.
"We all understand a little better," said Luisa Leith, their mother, who adds she was angry at her children for the illegal downloads. "It's not a faceless industry, but people are involved," she said of the recording world.
Co-starring with Maggie Leith in the group shot is Shana Glynn, 15, of Westerleigh.
She was also filmed solo, and is unsure as to which segment will make the final cut.
Either way, though, she's excited.
"It was so much fun," said Miss Glynn, who sheepishly revealed that she had downloaded more than 2,000 tunes, including hits by rapper Nelly.
But, now it's all behind her.
Miss Glynn settled for $1,500 with the RIAA and plans to save her ad money for college. She will tape the Super Bowl and save it for prosperity, she said.
"It's just nice that something so good could come from something so bad," she said. "Getting sued was so horrible, but doing this was so amazing."
USED BAR MITZVAH CASH
Brandon Giglio, 13, of Pleasant Plains, has a part in the commercial, too.
Also sued for $3,000 by the RIAA, he was forced to hand over some of his bar mitzvah money to pay the damages.
"It's funny, but at the same time it teaches responsibility," said his mom, Ilene Giglio.
Giglio admits to having downloaded approximately 400 songs. But now he buys the albums.
"It was really fun and cool," he says about the experience of participating in the commercial and learning the nuances of making a TV ad.
Ad agency BBDO New York created the spot, and will be dominating game day by creating 20 percent of all commercials that will air. The cost to advertise for a fraction of a minute: somewhere in the vicinity of a whopping $2.3 million.
"This ad shows how everything has changed," said Mitch Bainwol, the chair and CEO of the RIAA. "The debate is not about digital versus plastic, its about legitimate versus illegitimate. We're delighted that these ads will drive people toward the legal services. That's the future of digital music."
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 