The odds of any ad campaign or “Trustmark” actually putting a dent into illegal file-sharing are awfully slim in my book, but we’ll give it up to Music Matters for making some entertaining (and relatively informative) videos regardless. In their new campaign, the music industry collective hopes to boost public understanding on the value of music with animated, über-abridged documentaries about the lives and influence of Nick Cave, Kate Bush, Sigur Rós, the Jam, Louis Armstrong, Blind Willie Johnson, Fron Choir, and John Martyn.
Any kind of PSA involving musicians is a precarious proposition, but these clips are fun, soundtracked well, and, most importantly, succinct. Music Matters will be screening them in schools shortly, but the rest of us can check out Nick Cave’s here, Kate Bush’s here, and the rest thataway.
Producer Bernard Butler told BBC 6Music that he particularly supports the campaign’s music education angle, as well as their choice to not use the films “to plead poverty.” Later, he added:
Personally, I see plenty of money in the music business being made and I don’t think it’s at death’s door. What’s important for me as an artist is that I see kids being interested enough in music to make it.
Are kids not interested in making music? We can think of a few people who might beg to differ.