Gerald V. Casale – Founder DEVO
Gerald V. Casale, co-founder and chief strategist of the seminal new wave band Devo, has more experience than most when it comes to the ins and outs of the music rights licensing market.
As co-writer of many of Devo’s songs – including consistent earners “Whip It”, “That’s Good” and “Beautiful World” – he’s seen sync rights contribute significantly to the band’s bottom line.
Early in their career, the group saw the opportunity to expand their revenue streams beyond label and publishing deals into merch, sync, endorsement, touring, multimedia and production, taking a more businesslike, corporate outlook towards their band and brand — one that many perceived as tongue-in-cheek at the time, but turns out to have been prescient.
And, as a producer and director of TV ads (Miller Lite, Nintendo, World Health Organization) and music videos (Foo Fighters, Rush, Soundgarden), he’s been involved in both buying and selling of music rights and is a witness to the (d)evolution of the marketplace.
