Mike Mills, bassist of the legendary band R.E.M., recently commented on Ariana Grande’s use of the band’s name for her music and merchandise. He shared his lighthearted response on Instagram.
Mills addressed how Grande has utilized the R.E.M. name across multiple projects. These include her song title, a perfume line, and branded merchandise. Rather than expressing serious concern, Mills took a humorous approach to the situation.
“Ariana Grande put out a record not long ago and her first single was called ‘R.E.M.’ Okay, sure. It’s the dream stage of sleep. That’s where we got it. It’s universal, that’s fine,” Mills explained. “Then she put out a line of perfume called R.E.M. And I said, ‘Well, that’s okay.’ And then one of the containers for her perfume was a cassette. I mean literally, a cassette, and it said R.E.M. on it. And then I said, ‘Okay, that’s going over a line. I gotta say something about that.'”
In response, Mills created his own single titled “My Cologne” as a playful jab at the situation. “We’re not upset or anything, but I thought it was just funny. So I wrote a song called ‘My Cologne’ that the chorus line is ‘I want to smell like Ariana Grande and I think she wants you to smell like me.’ And it’s just, you know, it’s all in good fun. And I hope she likes it, but that’s our single,” he said.
Mills emphasized that his response was intended in a spirit of humor and goodwill toward Grande.
The playful exchange between Mills and Grande stems from a shared inspiration for the name “R.E.M.” Ariana Grande released a track titled “R.E.M.” on her 2018 album Sweetener, which refers to the rapid eye movement stage of sleep. This is the same inspiration behind the iconic band’s name, as reported by 1077 The Island. This shared reference point makes the situation particularly amusing, as both the band and the artist drew from the same scientific concept for their branding.
Grande’s expansion into cosmetics added another layer to the story. She launched a cosmetics brand named “r.e.m. beauty” that included a fragrance container shaped like a cassette tape displaying “R.E.M.” on the cover, as noted by KS95. This nostalgic packaging choice combined the band’s name with vintage cassette imagery. It prompted Mills to cross the line from amusement to creative response.
Rather than pursue any serious objection, Mills channeled his reaction into music through his supergroup, Howl Owl Howl. The band was formed by Mills alongside Steve Gorman from The Black Crowes and Darius Rucker from Hootie & the Blowfish, as detailed by Gigulate. The single “My Cologne” became the group’s first release. It marked a lighthearted entry into the music scene with a tongue-in-cheek response to Grande’s branding choices.
The reception to Mills’ response has been largely positive within fan communities. While some fans expressed concern or frustration over Grande’s usage of R.E.M.’s name for cosmetics, many saw Mills’ response as good-natured rather than confrontational, according to Murmurs. The overall tone of the exchange reflects a modern approach to creative disputes. Such disputes are now resolved through humor and artistic expression rather than legal action or public feuding.
This event occurred around 2024–2025. It demonstrates how established artists can respond to naming coincidences with creativity and grace. Mills’ willingness to engage with the situation playfully rather than defensively has set a positive example for how such matters can be handled in the music industry. Ultimately, it created an entertaining moment for fans of both R.E.M. and Ariana Grande.
