The history of the internet is littered with viral stars who watched third parties get rich off their catchphrases. The Gregory Brothers took a radically different path with "It's Corn." Having navigated intellectual property battles since their early days on YouTube, the band committed to transparent monetization.
Before the official track launched on major streaming networks, the Gregory Brothers, Julian Shapiro-Barnum, and Doing Things Media arranged a shared business agreement with Tariq's mother. All publishing royalties, digital master sales, and streaming income were split equally. Tariq was listed as a primary featured artist and cowriter across digital distribution platforms.
This revenue share established a protective financial barrier for Tariq's education. Beyond streaming checks, Tariq secured commercial partnerships with brands like Green Giant, worked corporate appearances at the historic Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota, and even joined Cameo for paid personal greetings. Because the creative team treated the child as an equity partner rather than a disposable soundbite, the viral run remained wholesome on the business side as well as on screen.
