Bob Dylan And Citigroup? New Album Released Early To Citibank Customers

First it was an eerie and disturbing commercial with Victoria's Secret, now it's an album tie-in with a bailed-out mega-bank. Reuters reports that Bob Dylan will release his new album early to Citibank customers. In Reuters' words, it's a promotion that "would have been unimaginable during the singer's 1960s protest years."

Citibank customers who participate in the bank's rewards programs will be able to download Dylan's forthcoming "Christmas In The Heart" -- yes, its a Christmas album -- one week before the album's release date on October 13. (NOTE: Sony's website lists the release date as October 6, while Bob Dylan's own site says it will be out October 13.)

In case you were beleaguered by overdraft fees, or Citigroup's $45 million bailout, rest easy. Citgroup may have thrown customers a very meager bone (just in time for Christmas, no less). From Citigroup's press release:

"Aligning with industry pioneer, Sony Music Entertainment, reinforces our commitment to providing our members with unique and rewarding experiences," said Nancy Gordon, executive vice president, Citi's ThankYou Network. "This relationship gives our members virtually instant access to one of the most important music collections in history, in addition to promotional offers involving some of the most exciting artists in the recording industry. And it's a great opportunity for members to use very few points to get a reward that has such a broad and passionate appeal among consumers."

If the idea of a Bob Dylan Christmas album wasn't hilarious enough -- NYMag.com has some early track releases here -- the prospect of Dylan benefiting from a TARP bank may just be too much too bear. Thankfully, Dylan will be giving all of his proceeds from the record to charity.

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Comments

[JLennon4Life]

He was also the spokes person for Cadillac for a while. I would't dare say he's a sell out in the traditional sense of the term, because he has proven to have the integrity to draw a line between his craft and his wallet, he's just not foolish enough to pass up on an easy buck.

[tuberider]

Everybody wants to go to "The Million Dollar Bash"...Bob, like Bono is just trying to feed people, but laying down with dogs is not the answer ( unless you want them to eat fleas). Singing truth to power is. This time around it could be a hit. Rap it Bob. That'll get their attention.

[PatBurns]

How can he be accused for selling out when all proceeds go to feeding the hungry from this album?

[PragmaticStatistic]

Oh, bye the way for those of you who didn't follow Bob Dylan 40 years ago, the words to the song "Times Are A-Changin" shown above, are Dylan's own words. I find it funny that that should come back at him in this ecomony being associated with the very establishment he protested against.

[PragmaticStatistic]

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

[medicontheedge]

dylan has completely and utterly sold out.... he has lost all respect and credibility!

[redkim]

LOL. They said the same thing when he signed with Columbia, then when he went electric.

Please.

[PatBurns]

I agree. Remember in the Jann Werner interview how he said he wrote those "protest" songs because there was an audience for them. He stays one step ahead by by constantly setting his own way not caring about who thinks he's sold out.

[MyPOLtiks]

Where is the change, Obama? Where is the REFORM?

Job loss equates to home loss No jobs, no recovery. Why so many people out of work even with the stimulus spending? Why are more jobs still being shipped overseas? There is no such thing as a jobless recovery; that is n3ocon jargon.

good articles... http://www.iamned.com

meanwhile, the stock market is surging and everyone is too busy to counting their money to show any initiative.

m

[american-dolt]

My man is tarnishing his career

[Fabini]

And standin' there handing out free toasters to for the wedding of his son.

[vandegrasse]

This sucks!

[blogisti]

Wall street may as well own him too seeing as they own everyone else of influence or power.

[cf1217]

This is all much ado about nothing. Members of Citi's ThankYou network who choose to use their rewards points to pre-purchase the album are linked to http://downloads.myplaydigital.com/, a Sony site. Sony is Dylan's label. The Sony site lists the album as available from there on October 6, a week before it is available everywhere else. In other words, you don't need to be a Citi customer to get the album early, you just need to buy it direct from Sony, the producer of the album.

And this whole album is a fundraising endeavor for a very worthy cause: Feeding America (feedingam­erica.org)­.

So portraying this as Dylan benefitting from TARP money, or effectively doing a fundraiser for Citi group is ludicrous. (A little journalistic integrity, here?)

[RexOzone]

You don't have to consort with the "Masters of War" just to continually break the mold, Bob. Why not release a best of "Gitmo, Music to melt the heart and mind compilation" while yer at it. There must be a fine line between enigmatic and sure-fire unconscionably nuts.

[ImissBush]

the timesss they R

a changinnn

[revhatchell]

bob's, album will also be released early and at a discount to aig, kbr, and blackwater executives.

[OtayPanky]

You don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.