Why do the logos on amps get covered up on TV?

[tedzepplin]

Why do the logos on amps get covered up on TV? When a band plays on a late night talk show often the amp names are covered up.

What's the big deal with this? When the name marshall or fender get black tape over them, I can still recognize the brand of amp. I still know it's a marshall or fender.

Do the bands do this because the amp company isn't sponsoring them with an endorsement deal? Is it the TV network that doesn't want a brand name on tv???

Does anyone know the story behind this?

[realityczech]

They know the pics will end up on TGP.
Really its a rage against the machine thing.

[jackevorkian]

Why not just remove the logo from the grill cloth and be done with it? It seems idiotic (and wasteful) to tape over it on a daily basis.

[daddyo]

Something about rights to display logos or unpaid advertising. Anyway, it's about money - as usual when some sort of BS thing goes down.

[Tuco]

I don't think it's the band's doing. You see it in other televised shows too with various products. I believe it's the manufacturers that are driving it. They want their products to be viewed in the best possible way and therefore want strict control over content, something they cannot get from the late-night shows.

[Ed DeGenaro]

Because the TV shows can charge good money for advertising/product displays. Not done by the band. That said, once you get to the level where you do Letterman chances are you got the endorsement end covered.

By the same token, let me be the devil's avocate...why should an artist advertise the gear they use for free?

[jaycee]

Originally Posted by Ed DeGenaro

By the same token, let me be the devil's avocate...why should an artist advertise the gear they use for free?

This is what i always thought it was about. I never really thought of it from the manufacturer's or network's perspective.

[MetalGuitard]

Originally Posted by Ed DeGenaro

By the same token, let me be the devil's avocate...why should an artist advertise the gear they use for free?

I'm with you on that.

[The Golden Boy]

I covered the SWR logos on my amp and cabs. I removed the badges from my other 2 cabs, and even taped over the screened logos on the back panels. I initially did it because I got exceptionally shitty customer service from SWR. I didn't want to advertise for them at all.

[Phil M]

Did you get those stickers from Time magazine?

[MichaelThomas]

Also if an artist is working towards an endorsement with another company and he's playing on rental gear for a huge show or a tv apperance that company isn't gonna wanna see him advertising for another amp company.

I went to see a huge band on saturday, it wasn't televised but they are a huge act that does world tours to sold out stadiums. The guy had his Marshalls taped up. So I asked him about it. Basically he tried talking to marshall about an endorsementand they were kinda flakey about it. So why adverstise for marshall if they aren't helping you out in some way? Same thing goes with the dudes in Circa Survive, they always tape up their Fender and G&L logos on their guitars.

If you're an established musician touring for most of the year, don't let a company use you for advertising if you don't get something in return, if not, you're just being a tool for them.

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by Phil M

Did you get those stickers from Time magazine?

I think I stole them from my son. I don't remember...

The rainbow puffy sticker on the tuner came from a friend's daughter, the POW sticker is a record flag for military medical records.

[Structo]

I would guess that it has something to do with advertising.

Kind of like in a movie and an actor is drinking Coca Cola, they always have the brand so it's showing in their hand.

But it would seem if that's the case, the product manufacturer would have to pay a musician some coin if the logo was visible on TV.

[MichaelThomas]

Originally Posted by Structo

I would guess that it has something to do with advertising.

Kind of like in a movie and an actor is drinking Coca Cola, they always have the brand so it's showing in their hand.

But it would seem if that's the case, the product manufacturer would have to pay a musician some coin if the logo was visible on TV.

Funny, I was asked to do the same thing for a video interview. The kid was an intern at Spin Magazine trying to get a job there and he had to send in a video interview. I had a coke/mcdonalds cup and we had to cover it up. The whole time I'm thinking sheeeesh this thing isn't even gonna end up on the site! But he still made me cover it lol.

[reddgeetarzan]

Originally Posted by jackevorkian

Why not just remove the logo from the grill cloth and be done with it? It seems idiotic (and wasteful) to tape over it on a daily basis.

I'd say its more of a "statement" kinda thing. Its a bit more obvious to tape over it than just take it off completely. This is just a guess, but it would obviously make more sense to just remove it for pratical purposes.