Update: It looks like NIN just sold out of their 2500 limited edition $300 Ghosts I-IV packages in under two days. This means that Trent Reznor made about $750,000 which exceeds the typical net from a massive-selling traditional CD release (see Techmeme for more).
Looks like Trent Reznor has decided to embrace the idea of free music downloads as a business model with his newest release Ghosts I-IV. He tried it once before with his collaboration with Saul Williams Niggy Tardust.
Trent was “disheartened” the first time around when only one in five downloaders paid $5 when provided with an option between $0 and $5 for the Niggy Tardust download (see his interview with CNET).
If you go to the NIN site click on the “order” tab and you will be provided with the following options:
1) DRM-free download of Ghosts I at 320kbps. $0.
2) DRM-free download of Ghosts I-IV in a variety of digital formats. $5.
3) 2xCD set of Ghosts I-IV. $10.
4) 2xCD set, 1 data DVD with all tracks in multi-track format, and a Blu-Ray disc with all tracks in hi-def 96/24 stereo and accompanying slideshow. $75.
5) Everything from #4, plus four-LP 180 gram vinyl set and two limited edition Giclee prints. $300.
I think Trent Reznor has refined the free music download business model with the Ghosts I-IV release (I provided my thoughts on new music business models here).
He has decided to throw the gimmicky option of choosing to pay for the free music download out the window. It wasn’t a smart decision from the start and it really confused me as a rationale, music-loving fan (it made me feel guilty for being rationale and paying $0 for the lower-quality version).
Instead he separates the free music download from the higher-quality, non-download versions that cost money. This is a really smart move because it doesn’t make rationale music fans like me feel guilty for paying $0. Plus, it allows fans of Ghosts I-IV to buy the album in higher-quality formats with better artwork once they know the love the album (Because music fans will pay for albums they like).
Note: The free download comes at 320kbps, which is classified as “high-quality” as far as digital downloads are concerned.
Also, my favorite law professor Larry Lessig is excited over on his blog that Ghosts I-IV is being distributed under a Creative Commons license (he is the founder of Creative Commons). You can read my recent post on Lessig to see why he’s my favorite law professor.
This Creative Commons license Trent Reznor has released Ghosts I-IV under allows fans to copy, share and remix all the tracks given they attribute the work to NIN, they don’t use it for commercial purposes and they distribute/share the music under the same or similar license.
