McDonald's Asks Indie Band to Play for Free at SXSW

For a company valued at $90.3 billion dollars as recently as 2013, you'd expect McDonald's to at least have something to offer bands they asked to play their official SXSW showcase this month other than "a great opportunity."

Count North Carolina indie duo Ex Cops among those surprised when the burger giant reached out to them, mentioning that "there isn't a budget for an artist fee (unfortunately)," according to a statement posted to the band's Facebook page on Wednesday.

Here's part of the open letter posted by band member Brian Harding:

This week our band was asked to play the McDonald's Showcase at the annual South by Southwest, also known to music insiders as "SXSW."

Their selling point was that this was "a great opportunity for additional exposure," and that "McDonald's will have their global digital team on site to meet with the bands, help with cross promotion, etc"

I don't, and doubt that they know what this means either.

Getting past that rhetoric, at the very least a big corporation like McDonald's can at least pay their talent a little. Right?

"There isn't a budget for an artist fee (unfortunately)"

As of 2013, McDonalds is valued at 90.3 billion dollars.

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This is another thing that should bring people down to Earth when they contemplate how awesome it is being an independent musician trying to make it. When companies like McDonald's are trying to nickel-and-dime you (or in this case, not even offer any nickels or dimes), it paints a picture of how difficult it can be.

It's also important to note Ex Cops aren't some small band with no following or momentum. They've worked with Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan as well as Ariel Pink and are coming into their own following the release of their second full-length album Daggers last November.

UPDATE: Austin360 obtained a statement from a McDonald's spokersperson regarding the matter:

"We follow the same standard protocol as other Brands and sponsors by inviting talented and emerging musicians to join us at the SXSW Festival. We look forward to serving McDonald's food, drinks and fun in Austin. #slownewsday"

You can read the full Facebook post from Ex Cops in its entirety below:

Tags

McDonald's, SXSW, Indie rock