Will release 44 tracks, one at a time, beginning later this month, also calls record labels “dead ghosts walking.”
Billy Corgan, longtime vocalist and lead guitarist for the various incarnations of alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, has decided to do a bit of experimentation of his own when it comes to releasing an album to his fans.
Though he denies being inspired by the likes of Radiohead, who pioneered the art of giving away music for free with their album “In Rainbows,” Corgan plans to do just that with his new album “Teargarden by Kaleidyscope,” releasing each of the 44 tracks as a free download beginning sometime later this month.
“No strings attached, no e-mail address need be given, no fees, nothing, totally free,” he told Rolling Stone in an interview. “A 44-song free-for-all! You will be able to go and take the song or songs as you wish, as many times as you wish.”
He plans to eventually offer them all in physical format, but instead of as part of a single release they’ll be available as 11 EPs with 4 tracks on each. He says it’s a way of emphasizing how important each song is to him. When the entire album is finished, it will be compiled into a deluxe box set which will also be made available for sale.
Corgan thinks that the traditional album production time takes too long and that this method will give him a chance to do something “much more in the moment.” He thinks it’s far more important that he be “free than rich.”
It reminds me of what Sir Paul McCartney said a few years ago when he expressed his frustration with EMI for needing at least 6 months or more to release what he could produce in a matter of weeks.
As for Corgan’s opinion of record labels he calls them “dead ghosts walking, and they know it.”
When artists grow so frustrated with the music industry that they’re willing to give their music away for free you know you have problems.
Stay tuned.
jared@zeropaid.com
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Another bites the dust (possible record deals dead by p2p). Down with record deals and the labels that impose them.
I love this precedent. I’m not a fan of alternative rock, and won’t be downloading or buying, however this is another step in the right direction. It’s an amusing fork in the road for the music business, it literally is music vs business. A pleasant median will eventually be found, but I have a feeling things are going to get much worse before they get better.
The interesting thing is that unless legislation can somehow make labels a attractive option for acts, more and more will continue to defect from labels. In this case not much in terms of legislation will protect the labels. Especially if these independent endeavors continue to prove their worth as it did with In Rainbows.
Once you know the issues at hand, it’s not a hard decision to give away your music for free simply because it’s far more economical to give it away for free than it is to sell it with a major record label.
How many times have we heard about artists selling tens of thousands of albums, then the record label turns around and looks the artist straight in the eye and says, “You didn’t sell enough, you owe us x millions of dollars.”
You go indie and give away your music for free, you maintain the rights to your work and you don’t have a record boss telling you that you need to sell ten times the albums your selling now to break even.
“You don’t need a million dollars to launch a career.” -MC Lars
All of these guys who give albums away for free of course made millions with the help of labels back before p2p. Coincidence?
You clearly haven’t heard of creative commons have you? Look it up, tons of people are giving away music for free. Although I don’t think that was your point.
Although you must be aware that labels have a fairly good, yet questionably illegal hold of radio stations. They also forced their dominance of online and terrestrial radio by demanding that all artists have to be paid a set commission on tracks played. This prevents artist from offering their tracks for free, giving them more exposure. The internet is the only real avenue left for independent artist to get exposure. The labels now want you to believe that its also evil and should be regulated.
Thankfully many big artists are tired of dealing with the labels. They want to hone their art, produce music for the music. In the process many are showing that its still profitable, and that people still buy the content even if its given away for free.
If the CD version of this album has a decent amount of dynamic range, I’ll buy it (assuming the CD publication is independent, too).
…and congratulations are in order for Mr. Corgan’s decision.
This is all fine an dandy but why didn’t Corgan give his music away from the beginning . Oh wait a second he made a bunch of doe and can still make good money touring, bands that don’t
have a following and don’t tour and give there music away make nothing and if nothing is what keeps your rent paid then give it all away…