fastcompany: Justin Timberlake has made his new album free on iTunes a week before it is to be released. What do you think of this tactic? Is this the direction that musicians/artists will have to take?  See a discussion at Gawker.com.   [iTunes/Image via AP] The music isn’t the commodity - the album itself is essentially worthless. What has value is the live show (an irreplicable experience, and thus worth paying for), and the brand (JT as an entertainer, enabled by the success or awareness of his music and acting projects.) But the value of the actual album? It’s essentially zero. Give it away. Let it spread. Make it easy and frictionless for people to promote your profitable ventures (the aforementioned) so you can actually make money.
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fastcompany:

Justin Timberlake has made his new album free on iTunes a week before it is to be released.

What do you think of this tactic? Is this the direction that musicians/artists will have to take? 

See a discussion at Gawker.com.

 

[iTunes/Image via AP]

The music isn’t the commodity - the album itself is essentially worthless. What has value is the live show (an irreplicable experience, and thus worth paying for), and the brand (JT as an entertainer, enabled by the success or awareness of his music and acting projects.)

But the value of the actual album? It’s essentially zero. Give it away. Let it spread. Make it easy and frictionless for people to promote your profitable ventures (the aforementioned) so you can actually make money.

47 Notes/ Hide

  1. carpepiem reblogged this from fastcompany
  2. lyseetaughtme reblogged this from thelastblackspartan
  3. luckyno8 reblogged this from fastcompany and added:
    I don’t think this is a bad idea at all. Free music is here to stay, even if he didnt do this people would get it for...
  4. kmgrace reblogged this from sarpa and added:
    Auto-reblog for Justin Timberlake and Barrett speaking the truth.
  5. downtofartlek reblogged this from fastcompany
  6. sarpa reblogged this from spytap
  7. mojamid reblogged this from fastcompany
  8. lostgrrrls reblogged this from spytap and added:
    I’d also like to point out that streaming an album before release and giving away a free download are pretty different...
  9. readinglist32 reblogged this from fastcodesign
  10. fastcodesign reblogged this from fastcompany
  11. ahngdawn reblogged this from fastcompany
  12. thelastblackspartan reblogged this from fastcompany
  13. spytap reblogged this from fastcompany and added:
    The music is the commodity - the album itself is essentially worthless. What has value is the live show (an irreplicable...
  14. brazoscole reblogged this from fastcompany and added:
    He’s not the first to try it, and he won’t be the first to realize how bad an idea it actually is. Anything put online...
  15. psmatome reblogged this from fastcompany
  16. arts4la reblogged this from fastcompany and added:
    This isn’t really a new idea…didn’t record stores let you listen to albums for free in the store before you bought them?...
  17. madamedevideoland reblogged this from fastcompany
  18. fastcompany posted this

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