‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Could Help Britney Spears Make Some Money (Or At Least Her Label)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Jack Black arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal ... [+] Pictures' "Kung Fu Panda 4" on March 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)

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What do Britney Spears and the new movie Kung Fu Panda 4 have in common? Just a few days ago, that question would have been seemingly unanswerable. Now, the two are connected in a funny wayâ€"one that could benefit Spears in a way she may not have expected.

Kung Fu Panda 4 was released on Friday, March 8. On the same day, the soundtrack came out as well, and it features a song that Spears fans know well. A reworking of her smash “…Baby One More Time” is featured during the end credits of the animated film, and on its accompanying album.

The rock band Tenacious Dâ€"fronted by Jack Black, who stars in the film franchiseâ€"covered the single, turning it from an early example of electronic pop to a much louder affair. They re-recorded “…Baby One More Time” as a hard rock anthem, and people are loving it. The tune was previewed on TikTok, and it went viral in no time.

“…Baby One More Time” may become a Billboard chart hit again, but Spears may not make a ton from the track’s uptick in performance. She didn’t write it, so she won't earn any songwriting royalties. Depending on how her contracts are structured and where the hit single is consumedâ€"her version, that isâ€"she may or may not make some money as a performer.

The hope for Spearsâ€"or her bank account, anywayâ€"is that all the new attention will steer fans toward ways that will support her. They may go down a rabbit hole, streaming or buying her discography. She could make royalties that way, especially on the tracks she co-wrote.

If her catalog does surge, or the rocking version of “…Baby One More Time” becomes a hit once again, there’s sure to be a round of headlines about the event. More attention to Spearsâ€"and specifically her musicâ€"is good for her.

Of course, the more streams and sales that are generated, the more her record label benefits. The company may see more tangible gains from the sync, but Spears could enjoy the winfall as well.

Tenacious D’s version of “…Baby One More Time” was only released a few days ago. It has yet to appear on any charts other than iTunes, where it did rank inside the top 10 of the bestselling tunes in America for a time. How the one single raises interest in Spears and her catalogâ€"and how it will help her, if at allâ€"should be at least somewhat evident in the coming weeks.

MORE FROM FORBESBritney Spears' '...Baby One More Time' Hits The Top 10 On iTunes As It Gets A Hard Rock MakeoverBy Hugh McIntyre