Recently CNET reported that Saul Williams has launched an album with the help of NIN's Trent Reznor. What is bloggable about this, is the adventurous business model: Give it away, and they will buy it.
Apparently Williams' album is available in it's entirety for free download online. And if you like it, you can buy a hi-fi, real world version mailed to you on a conventional CD.
According to CNET, Reznor is less than pleased so far with the amount of actual sales from this particular marketing attempt. Williams on the otherhand seems quite happy with the deal, especially the part where his music gets into the hands (and ears) of 1000s of new listeners.
Personally, I like the sound of this. I have high hopes that this is the direction more and more artists are going to take. Cut out the middle man, cut out the greedy record labels... the ones that are charging us MORE for CDs even though they cost less to produce than cassetes or vinyl.
And cut out the FILLER TRACKS, the 'B' sides. Encourage our artists to produce albums that are great to listen to all the way through. For that matter, because the cost of distribution and marketing is substantially reduced, maybe it will encourage artists to also do things that are a bit more experimental, cutting edge. Push the envelope!
Anyway, while the labels are still stuck in the old business model, we will continue to see an abundance of theft online. Face it: it is just too easy to get high quality music through sharing programs such as Limewire. And you can get exactly the tracks you are looking for.
I would love to see some of the more main stream artists reconsider renewing their contracts with the likes of Sony and BMG, and instead take the reins and distribute their own music in a similar way. Give away lower quality versions for people to check out... and sell the higher quality versions directly. I know I would be much happier if I knew that a bigger percentage of the cost of a CD was going directly to the musicians.
I've never heard of Saul Williams before. But I am going to go download his album right now, and see if I like it. If I like it enough... I'm going to buy it! Let's hope that this is the beginning of a new trend in business and in ART.
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Comments: 3
Maybe instead of trying to sell us the entire album, these artists should focus on giving us JUST what we want, when we want it. Because that is what we can get already if we STEAL it. And we are getting spoiled by the availability. I do like some of the tracks I heard from Saul Williams' album. But each track is really different in tone and presentation, so unless you are a fan, it could be a little too 'all over the map'. But I didn't get to listen to ALL the tracks, since only a few were available on the MySpace page.
Trent needs to go back to the drawing board on this one... and seriously consider selling the tracks off one by one. I can see the day coming when you get Fifty Cent's new single for only fifty cents... :)