what do people think of this?

[george]

conor oberst (of bright eyes) has started his own record label called team love (http://www.team-love.com) and today they released their first album, "wild like children" by a band called tilly and the wall. the hook is that you can download the whole album off the website for free, with the ssumption on the label's part that if you like it you'll buy it. their plan is to do this for all their releases.

so regardless of what you think of the people involved, what do you all think of this idea? i have to say that if i were starting a label, i wouldn't have so much faith in the buying public. and if i were an artist, i don't know why i'd sign to a label that gives away my album for free.

[Paul]

I think it's a great idea, but I'm one of those weirdos who'd give all my music away for free and just work a day job like everybody else.

[bitterfruit]

Bands cannot survive on merch alone.

[george]

Originally posted by bitterfruit
Bands cannot survive on merch alone.

i don't know... look at jem and the holograms.

[johansen smith]

the Liars had their last album free to download for a while, and John Vanderslice has his entire MK Ultra output available to download for free. so it's not exactly a new concept.

[fuzztony]

I think it's a good idea to crank-start the label and new artists, though pretty experimental. I wouldn't be surprised if they retreat to free single downloads for new releases after a while.

A band probably could do alright on merch and live performance money, especially if still selling the album with artwork everywhere physically possible.

[9000]

people can get free mp3s of an album regardless of whether they're up on the label site or not. i'd assume that team love recognizes this and is not fighting the impossible fight. i'd have to imagine that in some cases, particularily with indie label bands, mp3s have lead an increase in traditional CD sales.

regardless, it's an interesting position to take given the noted success of itunes. some people seem to be willing to pay for the same thing they can get elsewhere for free. overtime, more and more people will join this group, i think.

as for the free mp3 concept: it's been around a while. check out articles about the old mp3.com site, which pioneered a lot of concepts in the area.

[Squall91]

Originally posted by johansen smith
the Liars had their last album free to download for a whileWasn't it in Windows Media Player format or some shit like that?

[george]

Originally posted by 9000
people can get free mp3s of an album regardless of whether they're up on the label site or not.

yeah, that's true. still i think it's interesting: this is the first label that i know of to ever offer their entire catalog for free.

[ericseguy]

I somehow doubt Team Love would lose any profits whether or not they posted the album for free...if you know what I mean.