An alert reader forwarded me this link, which shows a promo that looks a heck of alot like the WBNS history promo.
http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8848886&nav=menu100_10_1
Here is the WBNS promo for comparison:
Thoughts? Did WBNS "sell" this concept/song to WHO? Anyone know the scoop?
7 comments:
Obviously, it's the same music. On WHO's web site is this comment:
The band, based in Columbus, OH, is called Alamouth Lane. The name of the song is called "Carousels." The band's website is http://www.alamothlane.com/ where you can watch the "Carousels" music video and get more information about the band.
I don't see anything wrong in this at all. When I worked at an ad agency, we 'syndicated' creative and production all the time, took one great idea that worked in one market and sold it to another. If I owned a TV station and was dedicating expensive air-time to image promotion and had a proven concept that apparently resonates with viewers, I'd do it. WHO has the history and tradition, they chose this way to package it.
Can you hear that? That's the sound of the Alamouth Lane band's phone ringing?
Paul Greeley
pgreeley98@aol.com
This may be the indie version of "HEllO (inseert your market) that we all gew up on. I think this spot works well for WHO and I think it's a tip of the hat to the producer in Columbus who originated it. I understand he's making some money off of it, so good for him. As in most things, I think the original is best, but WHO's version is very well done and probably played well during the Olympics. I think the saying goes, you don't need to reinvent the wheel.
I don't agree with the guys above.
If you're gonna borrow an idea.. do two things:
1) Call the station and tell the CSD how much you like the spot, and that you'd like to use the idea.
2) Do it better than the original. At the very least, make it your own.
If you can't do those two things, don't use the creative.
My biggest issue with all of this is:
Did they at least talk to WBNS or did they just call the musicians and rip off the spot?
If they got permission from WBNS - or perhaps even paid for the idea - more power to them. I have no problem if another market wants to take a proven idea and buy it for use.
My biggest fear is what's happening more and more across the country these days - stealing. Youtube and perhaps even this blog - are giving people access to spots like never before.
I've had my spots copied before and only one station was nice enough to call me to get my blessing.
If you have to steal ideas - maybe this isn't the business for you.
I'd still like to hear the official word about this set of spots.
According to a past post by Paul Greeley, the producer of the spot is also the songwriter. So my guess is when WHO inquired about the song rights, they actually talked to the producer about "his" concept. So is the WHO spot a copy? Yes, but I think the WBNS spot copied many other anniversary spots...it just freshened it up with some original rock music.
And your question of ownership is a paradox of sorts. The station retains ownership of the promo and original band shoot, the producer owns the song and the concept I believe is public domain.
BTW - you have a better resolution of the WBNS spot in your Nov. archives.
There's a reason the original is always better, because the producer is following their own vision.
Copycats rely on that one spot to imitate the same thing, even down to the lower-third in this case.
This "copycat" spot is fine for viewers but draws the ire of us.
This obviously isn't a spot you would put on your reel because it wasn't an original concept... it is essentially a syndicated spot. Not different that using an ABC political spot and inserting your talent. As much as we all want to be creative and original... this is still a business. If you think something will work for you, buy it. Yes WHO could have broken the mold and produced it a little differently. But I happen to know that WBNS was contacted and the oppropriate people compensated. This was not a case of ripping a spot off without credit. I think this just shows what a great spot/ concept the original was.
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