Is Madison Avenue Killing Rock ‘n Roll?

Madison Avenue veteran denounces TV commercials that denigrate Rock ‘n Roll classics in new book.

(PRWEB) September 29, 2003

“I knew the Little Rascals personally”, Michael J. Weber protests in his new book, Invasion of Privacy: Big Brother and the Company Hackers (Premier Press 2003). “When I hear the song, It’s a Beautiful Morning, I don’t want to think of arthitis or Vioxx!” The list of classic songs canabalized by Madison Avenue includes:

o    Vertical Horizon - The Best I Ever Had - Nissan Trucks

o    Bob Seger - Like a Rock - Chevy Trucks

o    Led Zeppelin - Rock and Roll - Cadillac CTS

o    REO Speedwagon - Roll with the Changes - General Motors

o    Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick - Hyundai.

o    Sting - Desert Rose - Jaguar

o    Meatloaf - Paradise by the Dashboard Light - General Motors

o    Celine Dion - I Drove All Night – Chrysler

This is not only a cultural offense, the book contends. It indicates that Madison Avenue is bereft of creativity. Weber draws a parallel with the most popular TV commercial and jingle in advertising history, Coke’s "I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing". In a London fog on January 18, 1971, Bill Backer, Coca-Cola’s creative director, scribbled “I’d like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company” on the back of a crumpled paper napkin. Three months later on a hillside in Italy with helicopters buzzing overhead, 1,200 children wearing clothes from various nations assembled to lip-sync “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” for the rolling cameras. Three months from napkin to commercial, that’s the way advertising was done in its heyday. The book cites a lack of spontaniety due to an overreliance on market research as the principle reason Madison Avenue opts to rip-off old rock ‘n roll classics rather than create new classic jingles of their own.

About the Book: Technology, advertising, the media, and government, have converged to invade our privacy. Invasion of Privacy: Big Brother and the Company Hackers (Premier Press) exposes the dangers and proposes a practical defense. Part 1, The Invasion, illustrates the threat and unmasks the spies in our midst. Part 2, Zone Defense, presents practical techniques to protect your privacy, personal information, and self.

Invasion of Privacy consists of great “people” stories. You'll meet a Silicon Valley multimillionaire who sued the company that inundated him with junk faxes for $2.2 trillion dollars. You'll meet a struggling college student who set up a sting worthy of Paul Newman and Robert Redford when a con artist ripped-off his Apple PowerBook on eBay. You'll meet anonymous hackers who have saved you without you even knowing it.

Invasion of Privacy: Big Brother and the Company Hackers (Premier Press 2003) lists for $29.99 and is available at fine bookstores including Borders, Barnes & Noble, and on Amazon.com.

About the Author: Invasion of Privacy is Michael J. Weber’s second book in three years. His last book, Confessions of An Internet Auction Junkie, was published by Prima/Random House. Weber's career began on Madison Avenue where he produced hundreds of TV commercials, including several award winners, for top sponsors and ad agencies. He eventually landed in Hollywood and started writing screenplays. Weber has since written over a dozen scripts and episodic series for major film studios.

Book Statistics

Title: Invasion of Privacy

Subtitle: Big Brother and the Company Hackers

Author: Michael J. Weber

ISBN: 1592000436

Publisher: Premier Press/Course Technology

Category: Art & Entertainment: Books, Consumer: Privacy, Technology: Business, Computer: Security, Computer: Hacking, Computer: Instruction, Computer: Operating Systems, Technology: Internet, Business: General, Business: Advertising, Business: Media

Length: 296 pages

Retail Price: 29.99

Binding: 9 1/8” x 7 3/8” Trade Paperback

Illustrations: Profusely Illustrated with original art

Additions: Photos, tables, sidebars, checklists, tips, hyperlinks, website

Websites: http://www.mjweber.com/iop/privacy.htm and http://www.mjweber.com

Interview Contact: Michael J. Weber (323) 656-6664 - mjweber@mjweber.com

Book Review Contact: Kristin Eisenzopf (617) 757-8196 – kristin.eisenzopf@thomson.com