Last year Radiohead – the Britsh band – offered its album ‘In Rainbows’ to fans. What was interesting about this particular release was that the album was offered under a ‘tip-jar’ style arrangement where people paid as much as they wanted to. Essentially this was free music downloads offered by a top-rated band.

This year the mantle has been taken by Trent Reznor and his band, the Nine Inch Nails. Trent has long been an outspoken advocate of, if not free music downloads, then of freedom for customers to choose. Nine Inch Nails have recently ended their contract with their publisher and have chosen to offer their latest album, “the slip” for absolutely nothing. This is the first time such a large group have offered free music downloads with absolutely no way for customers to pay for it. Even if they wanted to.

The recording industry is going through somewhat of a recession as free music downloads in its varying forms starts to bubble to the top of the pile.

Related Articles