Music

Check out a gross 2007 anti-piracy campaign from Universal Music

by Jeremy Mersereau

Ahhh, the heady days of 2007. Harry defeated Voldemort, the Sopranos finale pissed everyone off, and major record labels still thought they had a chance to nip piracy in the uh, dazzlingly in-bloom flower. Presumably some non-pop-culture related things happened too, but who cares.

Anyway, one such major label was Universal Music, who commissioned an incredibly disgusting ad campaign in Brazil to combat music piracy. “You know what will stop those stingy Brazilians from downloading the provocative, timeless music of The Black Eyed Peas? Ads featuring severed body parts!” – The irrefutable logic of a Universal exec.

The anti-piracy campaign was rolled out by Sao Paolo agency F/Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi in 2007 , and featured bloody body parts presumably separated from their rockin’ owners by irresponsible Soulseeking and Limewiring. Because downloading Elephunk is akin to chopping off will.i.am’s ear, you see. Makes sense, I guess, particularly if you’ve just ingested a powerful hallucinogen. “Stop destroying the band you like. Say no to music piracy” the ads proclaim, which doesn’t come off as overly patronizing or imperious at all. No doubt these ads ended music piracy in Brazil forever.

Check out the images below, if you dare. Warning: strong stomach required.