Why These Musicians Refused to Sell Their Songs to Advertisers

There is a certain kind of sharp lyric that refuses to sit comfortably under a product shot. Costello’s songs often arrive with wit, suspicion, bitterness, and emotional angles that do not smooth out easily. That may be why his name has long appeared among artists known for turning down commercial licensing offers. The decision fits the work. A voice built for irony can be damaged when placed in a context that has no room for irony at all.