In a recent report from the Los Angeles Times, Kendrick Lamar's music video for his hit song "Not Like Us" has been causing significant revenue loss for several local businesses in Compton, California (Los Angeles Times, 2024).
The article states that the production of Lamar's video resulted in thousands of dollars in lost revenue for Compton-based establishments, as the filming caused disruptions and prevented customers from accessing these businesses.
According to the report, Pleasant, the owner of the soul food restaurant Alma's Place, estimated losing between $1,800 to $2,200 on the day of the video shoot, as her parking lot was filled with people trying to get a shot in the video rather than dining at her establishment (Los Angeles Times, 2024).
Another local business owner, Antonio Garcia of Sunny Express Gourmet Fast Food, also claimed to have incurred a loss of around $2,000 due to the video production (Los Angeles Times, 2024). The businesses have now requested that Lamar, his production company pgLang, or the City of Compton compensate them for their revenue losses.
The article also highlights the lack of communication from the city to these local businesses about the upcoming video shoot, with the owners criticizing the lack of advance notice (Los Angeles Times, 2024). In response, the City of Compton stated that they would work on improving their film permit communication to the community in the future.
However, not all Compton businesses were negatively impacted. The report mentions that Tam's Burgers, a local restaurant featured in Lamar's "Not Like Us" video, saw a significant spike in sales following the video's release (XXL, 2024). The manager of the Tam's Burgers location on Rosecrans Avenue stated that customers have been ordering the same bacon cheeseburger that Lamar ordered in the video.
This incident underscores the complex relationship between music video productions and their impact on local communities. While the video may have been a celebration of Compton, the lack of communication and coordination resulted in financial hardships for some small businesses in the area. As the city moves forward, they will need to find a balance between supporting the arts and protecting the economic interests of their local merchants.
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