Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
We saw this first with Radiohead’s
“In Rainbows”, a pay what you want model
that was overwhelmingly successful in terms of
conversion (despite the fact that Radiohead
refuses to give data on sales, know that this
first experiment was very successful). Radiohead
was followed up by NiN with a truly original offering,
which saw Reznor & Co. offer their fans a
variety of bunled offerings - everything from 9
free tracks to digital ownership ($5), to digital
+ physical ($10), to value add offers including
blu ray discs and signed LPs, costing upwards of
$250 for the most expensive offer. The effort by
NiN was hugely successful and embraced by a music
industry hungry for a new method of music delivery
and discovery beyond the colluded offer of
traditional radio and the impersonal presentation
of traditional physical retail. Check out some
great google maps screenshots
here that
demonstrate the global potential brought on by
self-distribution and disintermediation.
As for the Eno/Byrne collaboration released this past Monday on Topspin’s platform - I would say I am pleased with the outcome, though not floored. “My Life in the Bush of Ghosts”, their 20 year old previous collaboration is the far more challenging and diverse of the two albums, infused as it is more by Byrne’s 80’s-infected instatiable pop rhythm than Eno’s more reserved and electronically (over)-produced soundscapes and sonic curiosities. That said, the album is hugely important as a defining mark towards artists owning their relationships with fans, instead of handing off their rights to corporate behemoths. To be sure, songs like “Life is Long”, and “Strange Overtones” represent Byrne and Eno at their very best. For those interested, the digital album costs $8.99. The CD and the digital album together go for $11.99. For the deluxe package, including a film about the album, it’s $69.99.