The deal has resulted in the singer attracting further accusations of selling out, especially because many anti-globalisation groups consider Starbucks to embody the worst of global capitalism.
The coffee chain will be the only retailer selling copies of the forthcoming release 'Bob Dylan: Live at the Gaslight 1962', a recording previously only available as a bootleg. The new release will not be available at other retailers until after 18 months.
This is not Dylan's first deal with a major brand, but will add more fuel to critics questioning his status as a counter-culture icon. In May last year, Dylan fronted an ad campaign for lingerie brand Victoria's Secret. The ads, which were created in-house by Victoria's Secret, saw Dylan cavorting with scantily clad models to a remix of his 1997 song 'Love Sick'.
Dylan the compounded criticism of the deal the following month by announcing that he wanted to be a judge on 'American Idol'.
Starbucks' deal with Dylan is not its first with a major songwriter. Several weeks ago Starbucks started selling copies of an acoustic version of Alanis Morissette album 'Jagged Little Pill'. And over the last year the chain sold more than 750,000 copies of Ray Charles duets album 'Genius Loves Company'.
New Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen did not fare so well, with his album 'Devils and Dust' being withdrawn from sale at Starbucks because of a song that contained references to sex with a prostitute and anal sex.
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