Viral Video Generates Hit Song

Internet video sensation “Where The Hell Is Matt” has propelled an amateur singer into the big leagues. 17 year old Palbasha Siddique’s song “Praan” (Bengali for life) was used for the latest version of the video, which chronicles Matt Harding’s goofy dancing with people in 42 countries. The song reached the top 10 of Amazon’s soundtrack downloads, and is in the top 100 of all mp3 downloads. Harding’s video was entirely self produced with underwriting by Stride gum. The clip has been viewed over 4 million times in the past month. She will not receive any royalties from the track, but has gained priceless media exposure.

Silicon Alley Insider reports:

“It’s up over Madonna and Mariah Carey,” Siddique said with a giggle… Siddique was only first contacted by the makers of the “Dancing” video a month ago.

She came to their attention thanks to an earlier video clip posted on YouTube of her singing for Minneapolis station KFAI-FM. They flew her and her mom to Los Angeles in mid-June for one day of recording, and within days of their return, the clip was up and running. …

Siddique was paid a flat fee of $1,000 to sing for the clip and will not make any royalties from the Amazon sales. [Composer Garry] Schyman justified it as “good day’s pay for a musician.”

Said Siddique, “I’m not sad about that, because there is no other way I could have gotten this much exposure.”

Silicon Alley Insider: “YouTube Shocker: Musician Paid For Use Of Song In Hit Video”