Big Push Planned to Get Billy Joel's Songs in Movies, TV & Ads

BillyJoel.comSure, a few of Billy Joel's songs have been featured in Glee, and "Allentown" was in The Hangover 2, but other than that, you don't hear many of The Piano Man's hits in movies, TV shows or commercials these days. But that's all about the change, thanks to a new initiative to introduce new audiences to his catalog.

According to Billboard.biz, Joel has just signed a brand-new publishing deal, and its main goal is for what's called "synchronization": the licensing of the singer/songwriter's classics for use everywhere, in all different media.

Zach Horowitz, the chairman of Universal Music Publishing Group, tells Billboard.biz, "Joel regards his songs as his children, and as they grew up he put them through school, college and got them their first job. Now, he feels it is time for his songs to go to work for him."

Synchronization will also play an important role in getting Billy's music to a younger generation, who may not be familiar with him due to the fact that he released his last album in 1993.

One publishing executive tells Billboard.biz that Joel's classics like "Just the Way You Are" and "She's Always a Woman" should easily lend themselves to multiple uses, saying, "His songs are melodic and memorable, and he writes conversationally in universal themes that are timeless and borderless."

According to Billboard.biz, to drive the point home, two events will be held, one on the West Coast and one on the East Coast. The folks who are in charge of inserting music into TV shows, ads and films will be invited in order to "re-introduce them" to Billy's music and let them know that it's "here, great and available."

After all, it's been 30 years since Joel's hit "My Life" was the theme song for the Tom Hanks sitcom Bosom Buddies.