DMG Radio have been told to stop using the image of Michael Hutchence to promote their Classic Rock radio network.
Classic Rock, formerly Vega, has been using the Hutchence image for its ‘Classic Rock lives on” campaign.
The station has also used an unauthorised image of Bon Scott and Jimi Hendrix in the commercials.
David Edwards, through Chardonnay Investments, the company that acts for the Hutchence business, told Undercover that he asked for the ads to be taken down.
“The station tried to justify it by saying they were promoting Michael but they don’t even play him,” David tells Undercover News.
Michael Hutchence released one posthumous solo album and one album as Max Q. He also had occasional solo songs on various movie soundtracks. A quick check to DMG revealed that they do not play any of Hutchence’s solo works, only INXS, a band that is still very much alive.
It was also obvious when seeing the ad that the only thing being promoted in the ad is the radio station itself. According to a copyright lawyer, “the way the Hutchence brand is being used it looks like it should have been licensed”.
The ad campaign was originated by agency Three Drunk Monkeys to relaunch Vega as Classic Rock FM.
