Music Forum / NIN - "The Slip"

Anyone else hear about Nine Inch Nails giving away their new album for free? Its available for downlaod on their site, nin.com. You'll have to excuse me, this touching display of generosity is getting me alittle verklempt ... Ill give you a topic for discussion:

- How do you think the music industry is going to evolve over the coming years? Do you think free albums are going to become commonplace? How do bands propose to make money if not thru album sales? What about the future of albums on CD or other media, will they slowly fade out to be completely replaced by digital media? Discuss.

If I'm correct, on Reznor's last internet release, the instrumental "Ghosts," had a free download of nine tracks, and you had to pay for all 36. There were a couple other versions, too. He made over a million dollars for it in a week, double what Year Zero has made so far.

You know, you can always make some cash touring.
Direct internet releases seem to be the way to go... Only if you've got a big name.

I think this sort of thing will hurt bigger labels, but not the small ones.

Bands rarely make much on album sales, unless they hit it huge. The record company gets most of the profits. Touring has and will continue to be the main source of revenue, unless you write something catchy enough that everyone wants the rights to use or arrange (musicals, The Beatles, Imogen Heap, etc...).

Honestly, they're just fucking the record companies... they'll probably make the same amount touring.

Record companies deserve to be fucked.