Note to the music industry: This is how you release music on the internet and still survive as an artist

Trent Reznor has just announced the release of Ghosts I-IV, an instrumental project that was recorded over the course of 10 weeks last year. This alone is nothing amazing (well, depending on your opinion of Nine Inch Nails’ instrumental tracks) but the fact this is available immediately and the variety of release formats is. Nine Inch Nails fans have 5 different options for this release:

1. Free download of first nine tracks in high quality mp3 format. Gives unsure fans a taste of what this release is all about.

2. $5 download of entire album (36 tracks!!!) in a variety of formats (including Apple Lossless which is FLAC for itunes. Will only work with some ipods.)

3. $10 double cd-set with immediate digital download of album. This is perfect for the cash strapped fan (for example, me) who still wants physical cd’s from one of his/her favourite bands. Also, $10 for 2 cd’s is a really good fucking price.

Fanboy break: Trent Reznor is a fucking god

4. $75 package with double cd release, a dvd with multi-track files for remixing goodness, a blu-ray disc with high-def sounds and video. The video is a slide show of artwork inspired by the music. Finally, a 48 art book inspired by the album. If you have more money and a blu-ray player this is gold. The blu-ray disc experience with this will be amazing and I can’t wait to find someone who will get this (or lower the definition so I can download it). The art book also looks beautiful.

5. $300 package with everything from the $75 package plus vinyls and two art prints. Obviously Trent understands his rabid fanbase and these will be soldout in less then a day.

My love for Nine Inch Nails and Trent Reznor runs very deep and this release re-enforces and deepens this love. Trent has put the time and effort into creating options that will suit every fan. And making this is all better is that it is released under the Creative Commons License. Translation: this release can be shared and there will be no repercussions. The album is copyrighted by Nine Inch Nails but considering Trent’s feelings towards major labels, something tells me the RIAA won’t be coming after you for sharing this album. So to summarize, Trent Reznor has set the new standard for releasing an album. Smaller, independent artists will not be able to do this but larger acts that still announce albums 4 months before the cd comes out and sell DRM soaked mp3’s are way behind. Innovation isn’t impossible and for that matter, Trent has done most of the thinking for you. Bye major labels, your business plan from 20 years ago is fucked and you have no one to blame but yourself.

(Review of album coming soon…)