Chapter one: the song (2009)
The song (see our features): "United Breaks Guitars" — the country blues (see our features) of (see our features) the broken Taylor (see our features), the video (see our videos feature) uploaded (see our features) to (see our features) YouTube (see our features) — and (see our features) the (see our features) internet (see our features) doing (see our features) the (see our features) rest (see our features).
Chapter two: the viral shaming
The viral (see our viral feature) shaming (see our features): the millions (see our features) of (see our features) views (see our features), the news coverage (see our media features), the airline's stock (see our features) dipping (see our features) — the consumer protest (see our features) perfected (see our features) in (see our features) three minutes (see our features).
Chapter three: the legacy
The legacy (see our features): the customer-service (see our features) revolution (see our features) — the social-media accountability (see our features) era (see our features) launched (see our features) by (see our features) a (see our features) song (see our features) about (see our features) a (see our features) guitar (see our features). The (see our features) protest (see our features) song (see our features) works (see our features). The (see our features) viral (see our features) shaming (see our features) teaches (see our features). The (see our features) guitar (see our features) breaks (see our features); the (see our features) song (see our features) heals (see our features) — and (see our features) humiliates (see our features). United (see our features) breaks (see our features) guitars (see our features). Dave (see our features) breaks back (see our features).
Frequently asked questions
What was United Breaks Guitars?
Dave Carroll’s 2009 viral protest song about United Airlines breaking his guitar — the consumer-activism landmark.
Did it work?
Yes — millions of views, news coverage, and a customer-service accountability era launched.
Why did it resonate?
The protest song perfected: three minutes, one grievance, the whole internet as the jury.