An article posted by Global Grind member Pashoncoop revealed that Nine Inch Nails front-man Trent Reznor made $750,000 offering free music. How is this possible? Well, the music wasn't exactly all free; Reznor released a four-part album Ghost I-IV, with different parts available for different prices. The most basic of the packages being free and the other more substantial offerings costing up to $300!
As radical an idea as this seems, it's not the first time this has been done. Alternative rockers Radiohead recently offered up a similar deal, asking fans to name their own price for their latest album In Rainbows, which was met with much success. More and more bands are taking matters--and the music--into their own hands. Even high profile artists (remember when Prince wrote "Slave" on his face?) like Madonna are choosing to leave their record companies in favor of independent distribution.
It's no secret that the music biz is suffering. Sales are at an all-time low and record companies are downsizing or completely folding altogether as evidenced by this post by GG Content about TVT Records filing for bankruptcy. It's all about illegal downloading which is now the most common way to get music. In response to a post by GG Content asking "Do You Download?" Boss Lady Pittman says "Downloading is so much easier than shopping around for the best price of a CD that will have only three or four tracks that I like."
But, is offering free downloads the answer to slumping sales? It's ike some sort of reverse psychology that assumes when people are offered something valuable for no charge, most will generously reward the artist.
Ask yourself... If your favorite artist was giving away free music, would you pay anyway? -Kapital One