I was moved today when I read that Weird Al Yankovic turned down a seven‑figure offer to perform in Saudi Arabia, more than he had ever been offered in his life to do a show.

Nineteen years ago I quoted Robert Fripp:

I have just turned down a likely $150,000 licence on a KC track. This was for use by a tobacco company, to encourage young people to smoke. Beer & cigarettes pay some of the highest fees in sponsorship, advertising, licensing.

I just fixed the link in that 2007 blog posting to go to an archived page, where Fripp also says

I am still angered when stepping into a lift (or, as I might type while in the US, an elevator) & hear Beatles songs.

Perhaps Fripp had in mind how crummy a deal The Beatles had gotten on their publishing rights, something I learned earlier today from a BBC podcast.

Steve Vai said:

When I was 19 years old, I asked Frank Zappa for some advice on being an independent musician. I expected some lofty answer, but Frank was very practical and he said to me "keep your publishing".