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Soundalikes Bob Garfield, Co-host of NPR's On The Media, tackles the thorny issue of soundalikes -- commercials that borrow heavily from pop-music singers and instrumentals. Rather than pay for the music star's music, an ad agency will go to a music production house and commission a piece which is similar enough to the original to satisfy the client, but different enough to keep lawsuits at bay.

Soundalikes

Heard on All Things Considered

Soundalikes

Audio will be available later today.

Bob Garfield, Co-host of NPR's On The Media, tackles the thorny issue of soundalikes — commercials that borrow heavily from pop-music singers and instrumentals. Rather than pay for the music star's music, an ad agency will go to a music production house and commission a piece which is similar enough to the original to satisfy the client, but different enough to keep lawsuits at bay.