Bob Marley: the next really big brand
Unanimous Bourgeois Liberalism. That’s how Professor Murray Levinson described American culture when I took his political science class at Boston University in the 1970s. He argued that eventually, everything becomes mainstream. It may start on the fringe — rock and roll then, hip hop today – but it’s only a matter of time before it gets absorbed by the masses.
So it’s no surprise that Bob Marley’s heirs just sold 50 percent of Marley LLC to Hilco Consumer Capital for $20 million. A price that is probably too low for a brand with a predicted potential of $1 billion a year in revenues.
Nevertheless, it still strikes me as somewhat ironic given that Marley considered himself a revolutionary, stating, “Me see myself as a revolutionary. Who don’t have no help and take no bribe from no one and fight it single-handed with music.”
The marketers are talking towels, skateboards, tee-shirts and candles. I won’t be surprised if there’s a line of “spices” in there, too.
This is distressing. I grew up on his music (and Peter Tosh) when I lived in the Caribbean in the 70's. He'd would have only agreed to this if the proceeds went to legalize marijuana around the globe, I bet.
His music influenced a lot of bands and genres - like The Police.
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