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Taco Bell Launches 'Feed the Beat' Program

Taco Bell started its third "Feed the Beat" search today, promising $500 in "Fourthmeal" ("the late night meal between dinner and breakfast," according to a press release) money to 100 indie acts. Prospective artists can submit themselves between now and Thursday, September 18, at www.feedthebeat.com. Winners will be announced on Thursday, October 9.

"Taco Bell is a fan of great music, and Feed the Beat is all about the bands," David Ovens, chief marketing officer for Taco Bell Corp., said in a statement. "This program recognizes talented bands who are on the rise. We want to leverage our marketing muscle to help give these rockers a shot, while introducing our customers to some new music."

Taco Bell's 'marketing muscle' includes an interactive "Feed the Beat Virtual Music Fest" site and a "Best of the Beat" contest that will link three lucky groups up with a well-known producer for a single that'll then be promoted by the restaurant next spring. Past Feed the Beat winners include Girl Talk, We Are the Fury, Manchester Orchestra, and Daphne Loves Derby.

"This campaign is great because they give us free food with no strings attached, just to help out the bands," said members of the Massachusetts band After the Sirens. "They don't even ask that we mention it to our fans or advertise, but we're pretty excited, so I wanted to let you know that Taco Bell is awesome."

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
09.04.08