The idea of “promoting out” is perhaps over, however Gen Z teenagers will nonetheless roast you for posting cringe — because the pop-punk band Tramp Stamp is discovering out. In keeping with individuals on TikTok, Twitter, and Reddit, Tramp Stamp are “trade crops.” The giveaway? Their social media is simply too good.
An “trade plant,” Rolling Stone helpfully explains, “is an artist who has label backing however presents themself as self-made.” In 2019, the band’s guitarist, Caroline Baker, appeared in MusicRow: she signed to Prescription songs, owned by Dr. Luke, aka Lukasz Gottwald. Reddit resurfaced that report this week. The Redditors additionally discovered that the lead singer, Marisa Marino, additionally has a Prescription deal. Oh yeah, and per the credit on their YouTube video, the Tramp Stamps have a cope with Kobalt Music Group, which is partly owned… by Dr. Luke.
About Dr. Luke: In 2014, Kesha sued him to void their contract as a result of he “sexually, bodily, verbally, and emotionally abused [Kesha] to the purpose the place [she] practically misplaced her life,” in accordance with the go well with. After a number of years, the authorized combat ended when New York Supreme Courtroom Decide Jennifer G. Schecter dominated Kesha had defamed Dr. Luke in a textual content message to Girl Gaga, the place Kesha accused Dr. Luke of drugging and raping herself and Katy Perry — allegations Perry denied. (Dr. Luke nonetheless works with Doja Cat, Kim Petras, and Saweetie below his Tyson Trax pseudonym, Rolling Stone says.)
A recurring theme within the “plant” posts: that the Tramp Stamps seem to have a social media group. Their web site seems prefer it was professionally designed. They’ve a strong merch retailer, together with a black thong that claims “intercourse” in pink, Intercourse Pistols lettering. Their Instagram has about 27,300 followers, however a lot of their posts have lower than 3,000 likes. TikTok person hardcope identified that their first Instagram publish is an animation — a bit of media that’s laborious for a DIY band to place collectively.
“Every part about this group is so calculated, nearly insidiously, insidiously,” says TikTok person seapunkhistorian. “Even all the way down to their hair colours.”
One other person pointed to a bunch the place the Tramp Stamps have been ranking whether or not or not songs have been emo; they appeared puzzled when a snippet of a tune got here on. “Oh my God,” mentioned TikTok person dandydemon. “You’re going to co-opt the aesthetic and also you don’t even know My Chemical Romance?”
“It’s so apparent that the individuals who wrote this tune don’t perceive punk tradition,” mentioned TikTok person awtheyreuglee.
The truth is, the whole TikTok hashtag #trampstamp is crammed with individuals complaining concerning the band and their cringey new tune, out immediately, known as “I’d Moderately Die.” (Refrain: “I’d slightly die than hook up with one other straight white man.”)
There’s a lesson right here. When you’re advertising and marketing to a youthful, social-media-savvy group, you’re going to have an uphill battle until the group being marketed is perceived as “genuine.” And youngsters, greater than anybody else, have a pointy eye for that.
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