BY MELISSA RUGGIERI/AJC Music Scene
Most artists are accused of “selling out” if they license their music to a cause that is in opposition to their ideals.
But Grace Slick is taking a different approach.
The Jefferson Airplane icon agreed to allow Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A to use the 1987 hit “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (from the band’s Starship days) in a commercial that recently aired during the Grammy Awards.
In a column posted on Forbes.com, Slick confirms she is no fan of the fast food chain.
“The Georgia-based company has a well-documented history of funding organizations, through their philanthropic foundation WinShape, that are against gay marriage. In interviews, CEO Dan T. Cathy has critiqued gay-rights supporters who 'have the audacity to define marriage' and said they are bringing 'God’s judgment' upon the nation,” she says.
But, rather than turn down the company’s request, in which case they would likely find another song from another artist, Slick decided to say, “(Expletive) yes,” to the request and is donating the song licensing proceeds to an LGBTQ civil rights group.
“I am donating every dime that I make from that ad to Lambda Legal, the largest national legal organization working to advance the civil rights of LGBTQ people, and everyone living with HIV. Admittedly it’s not the millions that WinShape has given to organizations that define marriage as heterosexual. ..I decided to spend the cash in direct opposition to "Check"-fil-A’s causes – and to make a public example of them, too. We’re going to take some of their money, and pay it back,” she writes.
Here is the Chick-fil-A ad, and Slick's full editorial.
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