Tom Petty

Linda · **Posted:** Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:49 pm

http://www.nme.com/news/tom-petty/34092

Musicians get massive exposure at most-watched Super Bowl

Feb 4, 2008

Yesterday's Super Bowl between winning team New York Giants and the New England Patriots was the most watched in history, drawing a record 97.5 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research data.

This means that Tom Petty's half-time performance drew a record number of viewers, while simultaneously stirring up controversy that he may have lip-synced his four-song set.

Several musicians got massive exposure during Super Bowl advertisements as well. A spot for Diet Pepsi Max featured cameos from LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, and Macy Gray.

Eels aired a much-talked-about one-second ad, and Arcade Fire's song 'No Cars Go' was reportedly used without their permission in an advert for the NFL, as previously reported.

The 2008 Super Bowl held in Glendale, Arizona eclipsed the previous record set in 1996, when 94.08 million viewers tuned in.

72stones · **Joined:** 12 Jul 2006 **Posts:** 2109

I thought Petty did a fine job. I enjoyed it. Plus, I was really happy for him as well. The NFL couldn't have picked a more unassuming person to do a half-time show. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he could make what he probably made for a gig that lasted only about 15 minutes.
If Zeppelin really tours later this year, I'd have to think the NFL is going to try to go all-out and try to nab them for next year's festivities.

Jimbo · 19 Jul 2006

I noticed that one of the Super Bowl ads used Mick Jagger's "Charmed Life" from the new best-of CD. As I've said before, the use of pop songs in TV ads really doesn't bother me.

Yvonne · 30 Jan 2005

I saw Tom Petty on the TV last night and enjoyed it. It looked like he was singing for real. I've seen him in concert twice and he was spectacular.

JohnG · 03 Aug 2006

I still think the best halftime band was the year U2 played the event.

Jeff · 05 Oct 2006

I liked the Stones last year. Easily my favorite halftime show of those I can remember. The worst was that whole show that ended with Janets breast. That wasn't what bothered me (although I wish my kids hadn't seen it), it was just the whole ridiculous set, Kid Rock, everything. It was awful.

Pip · **Joined:** 16 Aug 2004 **Posts:** 2921

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

One other thing-anyone with ears easily could hear Petty's performance in the background when halftime started, so it wasn't even shown as it happened. My guess is they delayed it in case he said a naughty word, which would make it even more live anyway.

I didn't watch the talking heads part of halftime so I missed Petty in the background, but I did get the sense that the time between songs was edited.

I did see the drummer counting off the songs for the band, something they probably wouldn't have to do if the performance were taped.

Music4Life · 01 Oct 2006

I cant believe all this talk about him lip synching. I could tell right at the start he wasnt, since his voice was a bit shakey during "American Girl"...

Jeff

Jimbo · 19 Jul 2006

The people who think Petty was lipsynching are the same people who believe the moon landing was faked.

72stones · **Joined:** 12 Jul 2006 **Posts:** 2109

Amen, Jimbo.

Steve in KY · 20 Sep 2006

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

One other thing-anyone with ears easily could hear Petty's performance in the background when halftime started, so it wasn't even shown as it happened. My guess is they delayed it in case he said a naughty word, which would make it even more live anyway.

Back up the DVR, there was piped in Tom Petty music through the stadium before the stage was even set up (which is what you heard at the start of halftime); the performance was broadcast live.

pocofan · **Joined:** 28 Jan 2008 **Posts:** 20

I really enjoyed have someone play at the Super Bowl that a). didn't dance b). could tell without a doubt that they lip synched. I thought Petty and crew sounded a little raw, but I liked that. It was refreshing to actually see someone preform/appear to preform live. An odd choice for this event ? Yes. But TP&THB have been a solid band since day one. Not kick tail rockers, just good old enjoyable easy to like songs.

pocofan · **Joined:** 28 Jan 2008 **Posts:** 20

Steve in KY wrote:

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

Back up the DVR, there was piped in Tom Petty music through the stadium before the stage was even set up (which is what you heard at the start of halftime); the performance was broadcast live.

Here I was thinking, CRAP, they sstarted the halftime show and these boobs are still babbling on and on about stuff that 99% of the worlds football fans already knew.

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26169

Here I was thinking, CRAP, they sstarted the halftime show and these boobs are still babbling on and on about stuff that 99% of the worlds football fans already knew.

Exactly why would they play Petty songs on the PA before Petty took the stage? I believe they were already playing-it was "Free Fallin' " I heard when they were talking, and the stadium was dark behind them. I didn't really care-I knew they were going to show the set in full. Whether that was the case or not, Petty 100% was playing live. Whatever jack-ass "reporter" who wrote that, should have to answer for himself, which he won't.
I do know the delay has been in effect since the Stones played in 2006.

pocofan · **Joined:** 28 Jan 2008 **Posts:** 20

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

Whatever jack-ass "reporter" who wrote that, should have to answer for himself, which he won't.
I do know the delay has been in effect since the Stones played in 2006.

Probably upset that he didn't get to see a younger lip synch and dance act for the halftime show. I'm glad they picked someone like Tom Petty.

eightbudgies · **Joined:** 07 Feb 2008 **Posts:** 1

I've been a TP&TH fan since the mid 70's and considering their attitude towards music, I have trouble believing they were lip-synching. In regards to Mike Campbell's "sloppy" playing - my theory is that the man may just have a little touch of carpel tunnel - watch how he occasionally shakes his left hand after he's been playing for awhile. I've played guitar for 38 + years and have CT in both wrists & elbows - that's what I do after playing for too long.

Jeff Leventhal · 12 Jan 2007

All I can say about Tom Petty is that I saw him at Madison Square Garden recently (a year or two ago), and he was FANTASTIC.

His playing was raw, but tuneful. His voice was still (for the most part) on target. More importantly, he treated his fans and the audience like he really enjoyed playing for them.

Pip · **Joined:** 16 Aug 2004 **Posts:** 2921

If Mike Campbell is sloppy, give me more mess! I love that guy and I thought he did a great job at the halftime show.

NoURider · **Joined:** 21 Jul 2006 **Posts:** 3330

As the one who brought up Cambell's playing, it was an observation, not a criticism - the man was on fire, and is, IMO an underated guitarist, musician. I simply pointed it out to counter an idea that there was a lip-synch involved.
(Sloppy may have been too strong...it was like a misplaced finger or two...and thank God for it...it means his human and like every other musician I have seen live).

Pip · **Joined:** 16 Aug 2004 **Posts:** 2921

Sure -- You never want it slick, just cooking!

stevef · 05 Aug 2006

from Billboard.com--

Digital Sales Boom For Post-Super Bowl Petty

Tom Petty

February 15, 2008, 4:10 PM ET

Susan Visakowitz, N.Y.

The New York Giants weren't the only ones to come away from Super Bowl XLII with a storybook ending. Artists who were tied into the game either through live performance or inclusion in advertisements also notched impressive victories, especially on the digital front.

Leading the charge, perhaps unsurprisingly: halftime show stars Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, who performed four of their best-known songs in a well-received 12-minute set. With more than 97 million viewers tuned in to the game -- the most in Super Bowl history -- Petty and his band dominated the ultimate platform for reaching consumers.

This issue, the group finds itself at the summit of Billboard's Top Pop Catalog chart with "Greatest Hits," which shot up 196% in the week following the Super Bowl with sales of 33,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Meanwhile, the band's "Anthology: Through the Years" jumped 240% to 7,000, taking the No. 6 spot on the same chart.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Petty collects his biggest trophy this issue for halftime show entry "Free Fallin'": The track shifted 63,000 digital copies, a gain of 305%, and bows at No. 10 on Hot Digital Songs. "I Won't Back Down," "American Girl" and "Runnin' Down a Dream," which made up the rest of Petty's halftime set, all registered similarly notable climbs in the digital realm.

Mike Davis, executive VP/GM of Universal Music Enterprises, which controls Petty's early catalog, says that advance preparation -- especially online -- was key to ensuring the best possible sales outcome.

"A huge part of our marketing was online-based," Davis says. "With big television events, the online aspect is so important because people can see [the performance] happen onscreen and then immediately react and buy it online. With so much music being bought online now anyway, it's an easy bull's-eye to market to."

Davis says iTunes was the biggest account on "Greatest Hits" and notes that 12,000 out of the 33,000 units shifted this week (or 36%) were digital.
But Universal was prepared at retail, too. "We were endcapped and positioned at every single account," he says. "We had ramp-up on this."

"Greatest Hits" actually broke the top 10 on Top Pop Catalog several weeks before the game, and Davis says those results were "mostly driven by retail and Super Bowl bumpers telling people that Tom Petty would be performing." In the past 10 weeks, the set climbed the chart 98-83-79-40-34-19-6-6-2-1

72stones · **Joined:** 12 Jul 2006 **Posts:** 2109

I still think the NFL is going to go after Zeppelin with all of their might.

Tom Petty

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