Taco Bell brings back contest for indie rock bands

Great music, free food. That’s feeding the beat.

With summer concert tours rocking across the country, Taco Bell® announced today that its Feed the Beat program is back for its second year, giving free Fourthmeals – the late night meal between dinner and breakfast – to up and coming rock bands on tour. Taco Bell has opened up its search nationwide and will select 25 emerging bands and provide them with one month’s supply of Fourthmeals ($500 in Taco Bell® Bucks per band) while they are on tour.

“Last year’s Feed the Beat was a runaway success in getting Taco Bell connected with some amazing bands,” said Bob Fulmer, interim chief marketing officer, Taco Bell Corp. “What’s great about Feed the Beat is there is no catch. No stickers on guitars, no need to become a Taco Bell talking head, we are simply feeding bands free Fourthmeal and supporting indie music.”

Up-and-coming bands from across the country that are touring this Fall can fill out an online submission form by August 30 at www.tacobell.com/feedthebeat to apply for Taco Bell’s free food tour support. Eligible alternative or indie rock bands need to have a dedicated fan base, be on tour during the fall and have either a band Web page or MySpace page. For more information, bands can check out tacobell.com/feedthebeat for the entire band submission criteria and guidelines.

Music fans can head on over to www.fourthmeal.com and click on the Feed the Beat link to check out music, bios and pictures from Feed the Beat’s 2006 alumni bands including Pretty in Stereo, Nothing More and Prospect Hill. Our inaugural Feed the Beat class includes three bands on this year’s Van’s Warped Tour billing, congrats to Seattle’s Amber Pacific and Daphne Loves Derby and Los Angeles’ The Hanks as well as A Thorn for Every Heart who just released their new album.

Fourthmeal is the late night meal between dinner and breakfast that includes four signature tastes and textures found only at Taco Bell®. Consumers seeking “outside the bun” late night choices will find crunchy, spicy, melty and grilled taste experiences during Fourthmeal at participating Taco Bell locations.

About Taco Bell
Taco Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., (NYSE: YUM), is the nation’s leading Mexican-style quick service restaurant chain serving tacos, burritos, signature Quesadillas, Grilled Stuft Burritos, nachos and other specialty items. Taco Bell serves more than 35 million consumers each week in nearly 5,800 restaurants in the U.S. “Think Outside the Bun®” and visit www.tacobell.com.