Graffiti marketing gets the smear from Council

Warner Music has landed itself in hot water over a publicity stunt for American band Green Day’s new album, which has attracted the ire of Sydney City Council.
The company commissioned Surry Hills-based company Mr Perso & Detch to paint nine murals and 80 stencil images to promote the band’s latest release.
But doubts have now emerged as to the legality of the promotion.
Asked if Mr Perso & Detch gained permission for the graffiti, Sydney City Council spokesman Josh MacKenzie said: “Not as far as I’m aware.”
Mr MacKenzie said Council was “investigating” the graffiti.  “Graffiti on building hoardings is required to be removed by the developer,” he said.
“The City’s general approach is to remove graffiti quickly and consistently to help maintain the appearance of our city while discouraging repeat incidents.
“Graffiti is removed from public and private property with permission of the building owner and priority zones [including major thoroughfares and the CBD] are serviced every 24 hours.  Murals and public artworks require development approval including consent from the property owner.”
A spokesman for Warner Music was quoted in The Sydney Morning Herald last week as saying that the company “didn’t really check in terms of whether or not the company had the approval”, but assumed that was the case.
Staff at Mr Perso & Detch failed to return requests for an interview.
The practice of ‘graffiti marketing’ has been previously used in Sydney by Absolut vodka.
The practice has also been picked up by recently relaunched media agency FrankVizeum in an attempt to promote itself, to mixed reception.
A City of Sydney spokesman told media and marketing website mUmBRELLA the stencils were “illegal”.
Commenters on the site were also largely unimpressed – one advised the affected councils to “slam these wankers for every dollar they can, AND order the agency to remove the graffiti”.

by Shant Fabricatorian