If there is a hell… I’ll see you there.

Mar 3, 2008 Author: sijeka | Filed under: Gen X, pop culture, Gen Y, internet

Nine Inch Nails Ghosts I-IV

Finally, someone understood how to successfully release music online - and under a Creative Commons license, no less. For some reason if feels way more natural than Radiohead’s first try. It might be because Reznor produced Saul Williams’ latest album, which was released in the exact same way (albeit with less options). Mark - always the devil’s advocate, but most often than not right [argh] - pointed that the decision is easy for a multi-platinum artist, but i can see how this would also work for smaller bands too. Thoughts?

me: Saw the NIN? If you buy the deluxe package you get an LP signed by Trent - awesome. It’s way more clever than radiohead to give people options like that - also it’s released on a CC license. Love Trent.

mark: Yeah, but it’s all stupid… It’s all well and good if you’re a multi platinum selling rockstar who is already a millionaire, but it hardly helps new bands.

me: Well, duh - but his job is not to help new bands. Also, saul williams is not massive, and he did the same.

mark: It was with trent reznor though!

me: Yeah but even so - it’s not the entire cd - The new NIN is 9 free tracks only. Small bands can use this model: release an LP of 5 free songs, have people download the rest for 5 quid, they’d still earn more than with a contract.

Photo via.

4 Responses for "If there is a hell… I’ll see you there."

Patrick Blennerhassett March 4th, 2008 at 8:03 am 1

You stole that line from me. If there’s a Hell, I’ve already got a barstool reserved, and if there’s a heaven and I get in, the first thing I’m doing is punching God in the face for all that stupid shit he did to me.
Jessica March 4th, 2008 at 11:28 am 2

I so did not - it’s the line of a NIN song? Maybe you stole it from Trent himself eh?
Patrick Blennerhassett March 8th, 2008 at 11:38 pm 3

I will admit I’m digging Ghosts though.
matt March 9th, 2008 at 8:54 pm 4

Truthfully, I have to say that I’m very indifferent about the whole “giving your albums away ” ordeal. Most bands that this would pertain to, don’t actually make very much money from album sales regardless. Giving your music away for free ultimately affects labels more than artists. But it’s a double argument. If labels don’t make money off album sales then where will they?

Honestly, I think music should within reason be given away for free based on other reasons besides a pure marketing aspect.