Corporatization of Green Day!

[ekim]

Ok I know green day are no stranger to the corporate world, especially after the success of "american Idiot" and the  Broadway show that followed in 2009, also their songs have been used in TV shows, movies, sports events, but idk how does everyone feel about the use of "look ma no brains" in the new commercial ad for taco bell? It seems like an odd combination to me I mean what's next a mc green day shake at mc Donald's? It seems a bit to corporate to me tbh I get they need the advertisements but at what cost? 

https://youtu.be/suCdpLnLy30?si=61VFGicM--WNmC09 Here's the ad so everyone can see for themselves 

[greendepent]

Is something we must accept in the long run. If they wanna keep making money, they have to license things. And it will be more common now, because they own the masters of these songs. So the decision to lend Look ma to taco bell comes from them. And is ok. Maybe they will make a new fan or two along with some money. Is a win-win situation.

[Zebahar]

How much of a say do bands have in decisions like these? I can’t imagine the guys need to explicitly green light every ad that uses their songs right? Seems that’s more the labels doing than anything.

They are already signed on a major record label, I don’t think them having a song on a Taco Bell ad makes them MORE corporate.

With all that being said, I personally have no issue with the song in the ad. When I heard it the first time, I was actually excited

[nopride84]

Remember when they recorded I fought the law for a Pepsi commercial in 2004

[lucky_stars]

It’s definitely a catch 22. Ultimately though the kind of exposure from corporate deals and performances is what makes them profitable and introduces them to new audiences. I want nothing more than for Green Day to dominate the music scene again, and sadly the corporate partnerships/opportunities are their best chance at getting exposure.

[Saviour]

I've got a pretty decent grasp on how these things work through my career. 

Depends on the type of arrangement artists have with their publishers / record labels, but for the most part songs will be sync licensed without the artists approval. This is especially common with larger (usually pop) artists as there's just too many requests for them to personally approve usage. 

However (and I'm only talking about UK here) but I believe Green Day are on a pretty select list (relatively speaking) that require prior approval. This is common for bands and artists that are conscious of their brand and image. 

These campaigns are incredibly lucrative, though. This doesn't seem like a HUGE campaign - and it totally depends on media buy - but we could be talking a couple of hundred thousand dollars easy cash just for a few weeks on-air. It's a no-brainer (pun intended).

On a separate note, creatively it's a terrible choice of song for an ad, given the lyrics. "Look Ma, No Brains"? What are Taco Bell trying to insinuate about their customers? 😆

Edited November 21, 2023 by Saviour

[ekim]

Taco bell makes dumpster food there's zero nutrition value In their so called "Mexican food" the company farts out they're one of many fast food restaurants supporting America's growing obesity problem why not endorse actual healthy foods like plant based meat something more practical? 

18 minutes ago, Saviour said:

I've got a pretty decent grasp on how these things work through my career. 

Depends on the type of arrangement artists have with their publishers / record labels, but for the most part songs will be sync licensed without the artists approval. This is especially common with larger (usually pop) artists as there's just too many requests for them to personally approve usage. 

However (and I'm only talking about UK here) but I believe Green Day are on a pretty select list (relatively speaking) that require prior approval. This is common for bands and artists that are conscious of their brand and image. 

These campaigns are incredibly lucrative, though. This doesn't seem like a HUGE campaign - and it totally depends on media buy - but we could be talking a couple of hundred thousand dollars easy cash just for a few weeks on-air. It's a no-brainer (pun intended).

On a separate note, creatively it's a terrible choice of song for an ad, given the lyrics. "Look Ma, No Brains"? What are Taco Bell trying to insinuate about their customers? 😆

Dude the shit the bed line is perfect lol 

25 minutes ago, nopride84 said:

Remember when they recorded I fought the law for a Pepsi commercial in 2004

Wasn't that for a super bowl ad ?

[The Grohl]

I think the use of the song in the ad is weird but funny. Totally unexpected. And I understand the move. It's no worse than their collab with Angry Birds. Green Day is getting their paycheck and that's fine. Doesn't affect my love for the band and hey maybe it will turn more folks on to Green Day. It's not unheard of.

[devilskind92]

We live in a capitalist society. Money Money. It's all that really matters. I don't like it, but it's the world we live in (for now).

That said, I'd rather them take money from corporations than increase ticket prices for us.

Edited November 21, 2023 by devilskind92

[jengd]

Nobody seems to make much from music these days so who can blame them.  There seems to be a trend, maybe just in the Uk, where ads suggest you are a total moron if you but their product.  Perhaps the ads are meant to be funny or ironic but they are failing.  Just might have to try Taco Bell as I never have 😂😂

[pacejunkie punk]

9 minutes ago, jengd said:

Nobody seems to make much from music these days so who can blame them.  There seems to be a trend, maybe just in the Uk, where ads suggest you are a total moron if you but their product.  Perhaps the ads are meant to be funny or ironic but they are failing.  Just might have to try Taco Bell as I never have 😂😂

Yeah the ads work in funny ways. As a fan, it makes me want to support Taco Bell just for supporting Green Day. 

[stories and songs]

I mean, they had their own Rock Band game. They’ve done multiple Converse collabs. They sell merch that isn’t cheap. The list goes on. It’s part of being a popular artist and IMO, not a bad reflection on them as people, nor does it mean that they don’t believe the messaging in their songs. If you want to be in the game, you need to participate to a certain extent. And you know what? I’m happy when rock music gets mainstream exposure in any way these days, because it’s woefully missing from pop culture right now.

I don’t think having their song featured in a Taco Bell commercial is particularly weird or any sort of marketing shift for them. If they were used in a commercial for one of Elon Musk’s entities, yes that would be weird and upsetting lol. But Taco Bell is inexpensive food accessible to the masses and personally, I think quite a good post-concert treat! I am all for Taco Bell paying Green Day, lol.

[lucky_stars]

Also — I think Green Day manages to do a similar thing in their music that Taylor Swift  does. She’s LITERALLY a billionaire but the things she writes about feel so relatable and real to everyday people. Green Day write about disillusion, capitalism, etc and it feels earnest (in my opinion) despite them also being part of the 1%. I’m sure folks would disagree though 🤷🏻‍♀️

[stories and songs]

@lucky_starsTotally agree with you. The guys in Green Day may be wealthy now, but they still come from working class backgrounds and married everyday people, and that informs how they view the world. I absolutely believe the views they express are genuine, and it’s obvious from how freely and openly they talk about these issues in interviews. These are topics they’re familiar with and feel passionately about, and it shows. They also just still seem very down-to-earth to me. People who have found success are still people, and deep down, still the people they were when they first started. 

[nopride84]

2 hours ago, ekim said:

 

Wasn't that for a super bowl ad ?

https://youtu.be/rcToyN2_cSs?si=X0Vnf6PWps66toIi

[Dirnt Dirnt Dirnt]

Bands have been licensing their music for decades so nothing new here. Plus with people being able to instantly Shazam any song that they hear, they'll get some new fans and more awareness of the new album.  Win win

[mao]

In my case, if Green Day hadn't collaborated with the Beat Saber, I might have ended up without a connection to them for the rest of my life, so thanks for that.
If possible, I would love to see them release the DLC for SAVIORS.

 

But I just think it was crazy to collaborate with Hooters in Japan when DOS was released😂

https://iflyer.tv/article/2012/11/12/green-day-hooters-dos/

[aahhhh]

14 hours ago, Zebahar said:

How much of a say do bands have in decisions like these? I can’t imagine the guys need to explicitly green light every ad that uses their songs right? Seems that’s more the labels doing than anything.

They are already signed on a major record label, I don’t think them having a song on a Taco Bell ad makes them MORE corporate.

With all that being said, I personally have no issue with the song in the ad. When I heard it the first time, I was actually excited

the band definitely has say in this. if it were up to the label, they would agree to every ad request because they want money and don't really care what they're promoting. when i come around would be in car rental commercials, holiday would be promoting tourism, etc

agreed that a taco bell commercial doesn't feel like a big deal

[billy1986]

Who gives a shit they earned their keep they still make music and they are the best fucking band ever. 

[Montclare]

Was just looking at the comments on the LMNB YouTube music video, and a few of the most recent comments say Taco Bell brought them there.

[Tre's Busted Drumkit]

Now I want a crunchwrap supreme and a Doritos locos cheesy gordita crunch. Thanks, asshole.

[HoneyEmerald]

I don't think I want to have brains in my tacos...   

So perhaps it is a good thing that ma can look in her tacos and see they have no brains? 

[Yosuke Hanamura]

18 hours ago, stories and songs said:

I don’t think having their song featured in a Taco Bell commercial is particularly weird or any sort of marketing shift for them. If they were used in a commercial for one of Elon Musk’s entities, yes that would be weird and upsetting lol.

Especially since Elon and many others went full Zionist in recent weeks! 

18 hours ago, lucky_stars said:

Green Day write about disillusion, capitalism, etc and it feels earnest (in my opinion) despite them also being part of the 1%. I’m sure folks would disagree though 🤷🏻‍♀️

The two certainly aren't mutually exclusive. If they were, bands like Rage Against The Machine and System of a Down would be DOA.

[That Dude]

Now if only we could get Green Day merch AT Taco Bell.  That would be beneficial to everyone.   One weird thing about this - I hear some of the guys from The Network are employed at Taco Bell.  Not sure if they are fast food workers or higher ups though.  

[Slave To The Network]

What?? This just feels wrong to me. I don't know...