Band of Horses & Wal-Mart, Peter Bjorn & John & Target, etc

Band of Horuses….Band of Horses allowed Wal-Mart to use “The Funeral,” a song off last year’s debut, “Everything All the Time,” in a Web advertisement. If he had turned down Wal-Mart’s offer, Bridwell said: “What are you left with? People will forget you were high and mighty.”

The licensing of “Is There a Ghost” to a Ford TV commercial also drew sellout calls. Independent of the deal, both Bridwells drive Ford trucks. Ben’s is a rusty, battered F-150 with a broken window motor that makes parking under trees when rain threatens a good idea.

Bridwell released a statement through Sub Pop, the band’s label, explaining his position. He feels he shouldn’t have been asked to do that.

“Every commercial has music,” David Bridwell said.

“Any (person) with a computer can write a blog,” Ben Bridwell said. “What do you do for a living? Do you not work?

“Do you not get paid by someone?”

Here’s an idea many critics failed to present when sounding off: Bands no longer make enough money from album sales and touring, so licensing is essential to sustaining a career. And — surprise! — it’s hardly a new trend.

Wilco’s music is being used in Volkswagen commercials. Sonic Youth will release a tribute compilation, “Hits Are for Squares,” through Starbucks. And who hasn’t hummed to Outback Steakhouse’s reworking of “Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games” by Of Montreal?

Selling a song to a retailer — like Peter Bjorn and John, who sold their song “Young Folks” to Target — doesn’t mean the song isn’t catchy, glamorous and, ultimately, good. So should “The Funeral” be buried?

“I’ve caught enough flak from purists,” Bridwell said. “So should I go all out?” (“The Funeral” also might appear in a Wal-Mart TV ad, he said.)…. [The State] (via)

The photo in this post was taken at the “MySpace Secret Show” that Band of Horses played @ Vera Project in Seattle this weekend (Oct 6, 2007). BOH have two upcoming NYC shows, and other scheduled tour dates.