Touting your bad reputation.
Using words that nobody is listening to.
Disconnecting from your audience.
All three can do serious damage to your brand or company’s public relations, which in turn can ruin your public perception — and ultimately hurt your bottom line.
In this Sept. 21, 2024 blog post, I shared 10 songs with great PR advice. Since that one spurred more feedback from readers than most others (thank you!), I thought it was time to do a sequel.
So here you go — below are 13 songs with absolutely terrible PR advice. They’re mostly from my own music collection — but a few of these suggestions are courtesy of my buddies from my BYU days: Mike Markham and Wayne Robinson. Thanks, gentlemen. (btw, I can assure you I don’t have ANY Brittany Spears in my music library!)
- Bad Reputation – Joan Jett (1980)
Joan Jett wrote this rebellious classic after record labels repeatedly rejected her — not because of her talent, but because they thought her image was too aggressive, too punk, and just plain bad for business. So she leaned in by singing: “I don’t give a d— about my bad reputation!” accompanied by aggressive guitar and other attitude-driven instrumentation. Ironically, this strategy gave her the breakthrough she needed. While the single didn’t crack the Top 40 in the U.S., it became iconic, helped launch her solo career, and is now etched into pop culture. But in public relations? Intentionally cultivating or not caring you have a bad reputation won’t land your brand in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — it’ll land you in crisis mode. Be bold, sure. But don’t be careless or flaunt disregard for what others think.
Secrecy might make for a catchy new wave hit, but proudly proclaiming “our lips are sealed” is terrible advice when you’re managing a scandal or a legitimate public concern. In PR, silence doesn’t suggest discretion — it suggests evasion. Transparency matters. When brands go dark, people fill in the blanks themselves — and usually not in your favor. Unless your company is purposely in self-destruct mode, keep those lips unsealed when the public or employees or other stakeholders have questions. Furthermore, singing, “It doesn’t matter what they say” is more bad PR advice. It actually DOES matter what others say about you.
- No More Words – Berlin (1984)
This icy synth-pop song features the repeated refrain, “No more words.” That might be common in a relationship fight — or an ‘80s music video with heavy eyeliner and dyed hair — but in PR, pulling a verbal disappearing act is a great way to lose the trust of internal and external stakeholders. For example, if your team’s response to media inquiries is ghosting journalists, expect the coverage to turn hostile fast. “No more words” isn’t efficient — it’s evasive.
- Words – Missing Persons (1982)
With the brilliantly exasperated lyric, “What are words for, when no one listens anymore?” this song nails the existential dread of PR and marketing pros everywhere. But giving up on words is the wrong move. If no one’s listening, it’s not because words don’t work — it’s because your message isn’t landing. It’s not attention-getting, engaging, and persuasive. Reframe, repackage, and re-engage. Hire a communications guru if necessary. In PR and all your communications, words still matter. You just have to find the right ones.
Gary Numan’s robotic detachment played into new wave’s aesthetics wonderfully in his first song to garner U.S. airplay. But “disconnecting” from your audience is a reputation killer. The title itself screams what NOT to do. Disengagement suggests you’ve given up — or worse, that you never cared. Audiences today expect connection, responsiveness and relevance. Pulling the plug just leaves your brand in the dark.
This one might as well be the anthem for companies caught red-handed. The entire song loops the haunting title, “Shouldn’t have done that” — which is basically what your crisis comms team is saying when you launch a tone-deaf PR/marketing campaign or let your untrained social media intern post unsupervised. Regret is not a strategy. Foresight is. If your response begins with “oops,” you’re already in damage control. Speaking of “oops…”
The cheeky chorus is unforgettable — but it’s also what businesses with ad hoc communications say every quarter. Repeating the same mistake doesn’t make it cute. It makes it negligent. Forgetting to update your crisis plan? Publishing another tone-deaf ad? Failing to train your CEO for that media interview — again? That’s not charming. That’s a pattern. And patterns get noticed and can hurt your profitability. (Why are you familiar with this song Mike??)
- Backstabber – The O’Jays (1972)
“What they do? They smile in your face, all the time they want to take your place — the backstabbers.” Great groove and lyrical hook. Terrible culture. And worse PR. Brands that throw partners, employees or competitors under the bus always end up getting run over themselves. Gossip, leaks, or snide remarks might feel justified or self-empowering in the moment — but they erode trust and reputation fast. In PR, authenticity, integrity, and having a humble, service-oriented mindset always play better than betrayal and revenge.
The title alone signals a persona no brand should aspire to. Grumpy messaging — whether it’s combative press releases, cranky executives, or an always-on-the-defensive tone — only alienates your audience. Being sharp is fine. Being rude? Not so much. A brand voice that oozes resentment might work for a character in a cartoon — but not for a company that wants to be taken seriously. Smile, and enjoy providing meaningful products and/or services to others.
This unforgettable bassline slaps. But if your customers, employees or products are consistently “biting the dust,” something’s gone very wrong. Sure, the song’s about grit and toughness — but in PR, attrition is not a badge of honor. If your employee turnover rate is sky-high or your product recalls are stacking up, don’t sing about it. Fix it.
- Don’t Speak – No Doubt (1996)
We get it — it’s painful when a relationship goes south. But “don’t speak” is the worst thing you can do when the press or employees start asking questions. Silence reads like guilt. And while legal counsel may advise zipping it, seasoned communicators know how to balance legal risk with public perception. If you don’t have an answer, say that. And promise to follow up when you do. In PR, saying something — thoughtfully and with authenticity — is almost always better than a cold “no comment” or just silence. (Yes, Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence” could easily be included on this list, but 13 is enough.)
The frenzied chorus — “I’m out of control!” — might capture your inner turmoil during a PR firestorm, but it’s not the message you want to send. Letting the narrative spiral sends a signal that you’re reactive, not strategic. Even in chaos, your tone should project calm, command and credibility. If you feel out of control, fine. Just don’t let the public see it. And get things back under control ASAP.
If your messaging sounds like it was assembled in a boardroom by a team of jargon generators, it probably belongs in the “unknown tongue” category. Brands that hide behind indecipherable acronyms, overly technical language, or legalese risk alienating the very people they want to reach. Clear is kind. Vague is dangerous. Speak like a human — not a haunted cult lyric. (Right Wayne??)
The 3 Big Takeaways
- PR is about connection, not isolation — so stay accessible and authentic.
- Clear, relevant messaging beats cryptic coolness.
- A bad reputation might sell records, but it won’t sell your brand.
Think I missed a song or two that belongs on this list because they’d tank in a boardroom? I’d love to hear your pick(s). Email me and let’s spin some more terrible PR advice from our favorite tunes.
I’m all in for expanding this cringe-worthy PR playlist.
In the meantime, stay authentic — and stay in tune with tried-and-tested communications principles.
Jeffery E. Pizzino, APR (seen here in a vintage photo circa 1983 serendipitously doing a Clash impersonation in a since-forgotten location) is a spin-free public relations pro who is passionate about telling the why of your story with clarity, impact and authenticity. He began his PR career in 1987 at Ketchum Public Relations in New York City but has spent the majority of his career as a solopreneur. He’s the Chief Authentic Officer of the Johnson City, TN-based public relations firm, AuthenticityPR. He also functions as the fractional CCO for technology startup Converus.
Jeff has an MBA in Management from Western International University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications — with an emphasis in PR — from Brigham Young University (rise and shout!). He’s a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but also holds an Italian citizenship. Jeff and his storyteller wife Leticia have four children and four grandchildren. In his extremely limited nonwork hours, he studies italiano, practices guitar, write songs, gardens, disc golfs, reads, listens to New Wave music, serves in his church, watches BYU football, and plays Dominion and Seven Wonders. Email Jeff.
