Taco Bell Feeds Indie Bands Via Nationwide Search
Taco Bell has launched an effort to build relationships with emerging rock bands to help promote its late night offerings.
The nationwide program, called Feed the Beat, will give away one-month’s supply of Fourthmeals (the meal between dinner and breakfast) equivelent to $500 in Taco Bell bucks to 25 bands.
To qualify, bands must have a dedicated fan base, a Web site or MySpace page and be on tour during the fall. Submission forms are available at TacoBell.com/FeedTheBeat. Entries, including two sentences about why Taco Bell should support the band, are being accepted through Aug. 30.
“It’s great music and free food,” said Taco Bell spokesman Will Bortz. “We realize bands are out there trying to make it. We’re trying to help.”
The chosen bands are not expected to promote Taco Bell, however Taco Bell considers them “influencers” who it says are already visiting its restaurants. The company is promoting the program at TacoBell.com and via word of mouth.
This is the second year of the program. Last year, Taco Bell awarded the free food to 16 bands in four cities: Seattle, Austin, Los Angeles and Boston. About 100 bands applied for the program, Bortz said. All of the bands posted Taco Bell logos at their MySpace or Web site pages and announced that they were Feed the Beat Bands with links back to TacoBell.com.
Taco Bell is also offering music, biographies and pictures on
FourthMeal.com featuring some of Feed the Beat’s 2006 alumni bands including Pretty in Stereo, Nothing More and Prospect Hill. Other content will be added on the site in the coming months.
