Perpetually divisive Canadian pop lad Justin Bieber is facing some pushback from the city of San Francisco over some hard-to-erase album “guerrilla marketing” that’s sticking around town.
Way back in the simpler days of November 2015, graffiti started springing up in a collection of cities trumpeting the arrival of Bieber’s new album Purpose. As any advertising agency can tell you, there’s no better way to promote a popular entertainer’s upcoming full-length than by writing some details about it on the sidewalk.
https://twitter.com/moniza/status/667380640124268544
It all seems pretty harmless, right? Well, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera is none too pleased with The Biebs. His issue? The graffiti has managed to stick around for weeks and weeks after its initial pop-up. Rainstorms haven’t washed the stuff away and Herrera says the city has spent a good chunk of money to get that slice of advertising removed.
Herrera sent a letter to Def Jam Records and Universal Music Group condemning the marketing campaign and has vowed to “aggressively pursue all available penalties and costs from those responsible for lawless marketing tactics that intend to financially benefit (Justin) Bieber and (their) respective companies.”
“This prohibited marketing practice illegally exploits our City’s walkable neighborhoods and robust tourism; intentionally creates visual distractions that pose risks to pedestrians on busy rights of way; and irresponsibly tells our youth that likeminded lawlessness and contempt for public property are condoned and encouraged by its beneficiaries—including Mr. Bieber and the record labels that produce and promote him.”
Not exactly the cheeriest of letters, now is it?
Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru also criticized the campaign and called out the crassness of a corporate entity engaging in this brand of promotion.
“Our sidewalks in San Francisco are not canvasses for corporate advertising, and we have made that clear. Yet these guerrilla marketers believe they are above the law when it comes to blighting our city and we will take a strong stand against them… The definition of graffiti is tagging someone else’s property without permission, and they certainly did not have our permission to do this to our sidewalks.”
According to Buzzfeed, San Francisco sits as the only city in this campaign that has indicated it will pursue action against Bieber and his record label.
(Via Yahoo!)
