Song of the Sequoia

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With Tower Records on Sunset going silent and CD sales in general heading for the dumpster, it seems that musicians have had to find a new business paradigm. Take Pete Droge, whose beautifully simple, wistful song ‘Going Whichever Way The Wind Blows’ is featured on a TV ad for the new Toyota Sequoia SUV. Jingles are soooo last century.

And if this pleasant tune sounds familiar, that’s because it also got an airing in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Men In Trees’ (if anyone watches that). This is how writers who aren’t household names can make a living, by licensing their material to advertising campaigns, films and TV shows.

Back in the day, the problem used to be how to get tracks played on the radio with the chance of them becoming hits. Now it’s how to bring them to the attention of ad agencies and music supervisors. Sometimes it can be surprising who benefits from the corporate machine.

-- Colin Ryan