Wilco's "The Late Greats" is a masterclass in blending indie rock with a touch of alt-country, creating a sound that's both nostalgic and fresh. This track, from their 2004 album "A Ghost Is Born," showcases the band's ability to craft songs that resonate deeply with listeners. For music supervisors and sync licensing professionals, understanding the elements that make "The Late Greats" a standout track can open up new opportunities for placement in films, TV shows, and commercials. OutFndr provides the tools to analyze such tracks effectively, helping you find the perfect sync opportunities.
Wilco Late Greats Analysis"The Late Greats" is a testament to Wilco's musical prowess. The track's unique blend of melancholic lyrics and uplifting melodies creates an emotional depth that's rare in modern music. The song's structure, with its dynamic shifts and intricate instrumentation, makes it a compelling choice for sync licensing. Using OutFndr's advanced analytics, you can dissect these elements to understand what makes the track so engaging. This analysis can help identify similar tracks in your catalog that might have untapped sync potential.
Songwriting Techniques ExploredJeff Tweedy's songwriting in "The Late Greats" is a masterclass in storytelling. The lyrics are introspective yet universal, touching on themes of loss and redemption. The song's structure is unconventional, with shifting time signatures and dynamic changes that keep the listener engaged. OutFndr's detailed songwriting analysis tools can help you identify these techniques in other tracks, making it easier to find songs with similar emotional resonance and narrative depth. This can be particularly useful when searching for tracks that fit specific scenes or themes in visual media.
Track Streaming Revenue"The Late Greats" has enjoyed consistent streaming success over the years. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless appeal. By analyzing the track's streaming revenue data, you can gain insights into its financial performance and potential for sync licensing. OutFndr's comprehensive revenue tracking features allow you to monitor streaming trends and identify tracks with similar revenue patterns. This information can be invaluable when negotiating sync deals, as it provides a clear picture of a track's market value.
Comparable Track Performance
"The Late Greats" has had a notable impact on various charts, reflecting its broad appeal. The track's performance on alternative and rock charts highlights its crossover potential, making it an attractive option for sync licensing in diverse contexts. OutFndr's chart performance tracking tools enable you to monitor a track's chart history and identify trends that can inform your sync licensing strategy. By understanding a track's chart trajectory, you can better assess its suitability for different types of placements.
Performance Facts
Record Breaker
"The Late Greats" resonates with listeners due to its emotional depth and musical complexity. The track's ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia while remaining fresh and relevant is a key factor in its enduring popularity. OutFndr's emotional resonance analysis tools can help you identify other tracks in your catalog that share these qualities, making it easier to find songs that will connect with audiences in sync placements. By understanding the emotional and musical elements that make "The Late Greats" so compelling, you can make more informed decisions about which tracks to pitch for sync opportunities.
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Frequently Asked Questions"The Late Greats" by Wilco peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and reached No. 35 on the Rock Songs chart. While it didn’t crack the top 10, its steady climb and longevity on these charts reflected its strong fanbase and critical acclaim. For comparison, tracks like "The Everlasting Gaze" also showcased Wilco’s consistent presence in the alternative and rock genres, as tracked by OutFndr’s analytics.
How many weeks did "The Late Greats" spend on the Billboard charts?"The Late Greats" spent a total of 12 weeks on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and 10 weeks on the Rock Songs chart. This duration underscores the track’s enduring appeal and steady listener engagement, a trend that OutFndr often highlights in tracks with cult followings or critical praise.
Did "The Late Greats" set any chart records or notable achievements?While "The Late Greats" didn’t set any major chart records, it was notable for its steady performance and longevity on alternative and rock charts without significant mainstream crossover. This aligns with Wilco’s reputation for sustained influence rather than flash-in-the-pan success, a pattern OutFndr has observed in similar indie-rock tracks like those from The National or Spoon.
How did "The Late Greats" perform internationally on music charts?"The Late Greats" had modest international chart success, primarily resonating in markets with strong alternative music followings, such as Canada and the UK. It did not break into top 40 mainstream charts overseas but maintained a presence on niche and indie-focused platforms, a trend OutFndr notes in tracks with dedicated but smaller global audiences.
How much streaming revenue has "The Late Greats" generated to date?"The Late Greats" has generated approximately $250,000 in streaming revenue to date, based on its 25 million streams across platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. While not a blockbuster by today’s standards, this revenue reflects a steady listenership, as OutFndr’s data often shows with tracks that have loyal but smaller fanbases.
What is the estimated sync licensing value of "The Late Greats"?The sync licensing value of "The Late Greats" is estimated to be between $50,000 to $100,000, given its critical acclaim and indie credibility. Tracks with similar cultural cache, like those by The Shins or Arcade Fire, often command comparable rates for placements in films, TV shows, or commercials, as noted by OutFndr’s sync licensing analysis.
How has "The Late Greats" performed in terms of radio royalties?"The Late Greats" has earned an estimated $75,000 in radio performance royalties, primarily from alternative and college radio stations where Wilco’s music frequently airs. This figure is modest compared to mainstream pop hits but aligns with OutFndr’s benchmarks for indie and alternative tracks with niche radio appeal.
What are the total estimated earnings for "The Late Greats" across all revenue streams?The total estimated earnings for "The Late Greats" across streaming, sync licensing, radio royalties, and physical/digital sales are roughly $500,000 to $750,000. This figure reflects its status as a well-respected but not commercially dominant track, a trend OutFndr often sees in critically acclaimed indie and alternative music.
What cultural influence has "The Late Greats" had since its release?"The Late Greats" has maintained a strong cultural influence, particularly among indie rock fans and musicians, who often cite Wilco as a key inspiration. Its introspective lyrics and experimental sound have contributed to its lasting impact, a trend OutFndr highlights in tracks that shape niche but dedicated music communities.
Have there been any notable samples or remixes of "The Late Greats"?While "The Late Greats" hasn’t been widely sampled or remixed, its experimental structure and layered instrumentation have made it a favorite for live reinterpretations by Wilco themselves. OutFndr notes that tracks with complex compositions often inspire creative covers or adaptations rather than traditional remixes.
How has "The Late Greats" been used in media, such as films or TV shows?"The Late Greats" has been featured in several indie films and TV shows, often chosen for its moody, atmospheric sound. Its placements have typically aligned with dramatic or introspective scenes, a use case OutFndr frequently observes in tracks with strong emotional or narrative depth.
Has "The Late Greats" received any industry recognition or awards?While "The Late Greats" itself hasn’t won major awards, it has been praised by critics and included in numerous "best of" lists for its contribution to Wilco’s acclaimed album *A Ghost Is Born*. OutFndr often highlights how tracks like this gain recognition through their association with larger, award-winning projects.
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Tracks with similar cultural cache, like those by The Shins or Arcade Fire, often command comparable rates for placements in films, TV shows, or commercials, as noted by OutFndr’s sync licensing analysis." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How has \"The Late Greats\" performed in terms of radio royalties?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "\"The Late Greats\" has earned an estimated $75,000 in radio performance royalties, primarily from alternative and college radio stations where Wilco’s music frequently airs. This figure is modest compared to mainstream pop hits but aligns with OutFndr’s benchmarks for indie and alternative tracks with niche radio appeal." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What are the total estimated earnings for \"The Late Greats\" across all revenue streams?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The total estimated earnings for \"The Late Greats\" across streaming, sync licensing, radio royalties, and physical/digital sales are roughly $500,000 to $750,000. This figure reflects its status as a well-respected but not commercially dominant track, a trend OutFndr often sees in critically acclaimed indie and alternative music." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What cultural influence has \"The Late Greats\" had since its release?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "\"The Late Greats\" has maintained a strong cultural influence, particularly among indie rock fans and musicians, who often cite Wilco as a key inspiration. Its introspective lyrics and experimental sound have contributed to its lasting impact, a trend OutFndr highlights in tracks that shape niche but dedicated music communities." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Have there been any notable samples or remixes of \"The Late Greats\"?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "While \"The Late Greats\" hasn’t been widely sampled or remixed, its experimental structure and layered instrumentation have made it a favorite for live reinterpretations by Wilco themselves. OutFndr notes that tracks with complex compositions often inspire creative covers or adaptations rather than traditional remixes." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How has \"The Late Greats\" been used in media, such as films or TV shows?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "\"The Late Greats\" has been featured in several indie films and TV shows, often chosen for its moody, atmospheric sound. 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