Line Out - Comments on Camel's "The Farm" Campaign Criticized in the NYT

Comment by Levislade

Levislade — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:12:33 -0800

Ah, but Ari: The New York Times is allowed to criticize Camel, because they don't run their ads. Unless they do, in which case that guy should shut up.

Also, "its print advertising in Rolling Stone."

Comment by Smokey

Smokey — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:17:53 -0800

Ari,

Will you ask your publisher to stop accepting Tobacco ad money? Will your publication stop co-sponsering shows with Camel?

Wake me up then.

Comment by Kwab

Kwab — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:14:05 -0800

the Murder City Devils played a Camel show in 2000 or so, they had to change the name to "the devils" or "MC Devils" or something for advertising purposes...i guess they didnt want Murder on the same poster as Camel for some reason

at any rate, the band was paid enough money to pay off their van from one show...

i would argue that if a tobacco company wants to pay an artist, or for that matter a club lots of money to play a show where cigarettes are marketed and sold, I can think of many worse beneficiaries of that money

Comment by k

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:42:51 -0800

hmm.. this makes me remember the CSS show earlier this summer. Wasn't that sponsored by The Farm? At the time I did not know what it was, and looking back on it, I don't remember a strong cigarette presence...

Comment by Ari Spool

Ari Spool — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:52:03 -0800

I don't believe our CSS show was a Farm show (it was all ages), but CSS have participated in other cities.

Comment by anna

anna — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:02:16 -0800

I hope all of the Rolling Stone readership has made up their mind about smoking cigarettes by now. I can't imagine anyone taking up smoking at 46(and I'm being generous).

Comment by partman Parthorse

partman Parthorse — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:05:47 -0800

Camel Sucks

Comment by Touchet

Touchet — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:06:46 -0800

Yes, Camel does suck, but your band still took their money.

Smooches!

Comment by Dougsf

Dougsf — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:37:02 -0800

How would anyone under 35 see something in Rolling Stone?

Comment by left coast

left coast — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:45:59 -0800

Rolling Stone sucks and no one can possibly be under the misconception that it's been cool in 30+ years. It is a pretty textbook example of how corporate ownership ruins all credibility though.

Bands should take what they can get. I am, on the other hand, happy to see cigarette ads banned from sports stadiums, but the public subsidizes those. The ban on smoking in bars probably more than offsets any encouragement that a crappy poster at a show could cause. Alright, I am a little on the fence here, but RS still sucks hard.

Comment by Ari Spool

Ari Spool — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:02:47 -0800

I think the youth of Rolling Stone's demo would surprise you. It's what you read when you are first getting into music, if you live in the suburbs. And it shows. . .they put Zac Efron, Fall Out Boy, and Maroon 5 on the cover lately.

They are on a throwback kick because it's their 40th Anniversary (and because the universe seems to be on a little bit of a throwback kick), but I think they can probably divide their demographic into two: old people reading for nostalgia and young people reading because they don't know better yet (what a perfect time to sell them cigarettes!).

Comment by Ari Spool

Ari Spool — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:07:23 -0800

Here's their demo specs: http://www.srds.com/mediakits/rollingstone/demographics.html

58 % are between the ages of 18-34. Median reader age is 31. (That's actually pretty young--The Stranger's is 35, most alt-weeklys are in the 40s.)

Comment by Partman Parthorse

Partman Parthorse — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:34:25 -0800

yeah. we took it. and we told everybody at the show that Camel Sucks. But i wasnt even told before the show that it was sposored by Camel . I didnt know till we got there or we wouldnt have agreed. I was pretty bummed that we were asked to play without being told it was a sponsored show.

Comment by Touchet

Touchet — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:30:55 -0800

SELLOUT! What's next, "Don't Fuck with the Horse" selling the new Ford Bronco?

I thought you stood for something ...

Comment by Partman Parthorse

Partman Parthorse — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:05:36 -0800

uhhh. whut? i think your joking...right.?

Comment by hypocrisy rocks!

hypocrisy rocks! — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:30:52 -0800

Ari you're ridiculous. Stranger runs Camel ads- how can you criticize them and take their money at the same time?