Everyone is trying to find the best way to release music and with digital distribution leveling the playing field, has Korn figured it out?
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We all know the industry is in disarray and a lot of musicians are forging their own paths leaving old standards in the dust. Radiohead offered a “pay what you like” model. Nine Inch Nails gave away their material through bit torrent, while offering various specialized versions at a cost. Eventually there will be a foundation or some sort of base for how to release music in this digital age, but until then it’s like the wild west days. The new frontier and everyone has a shot at putting together the right combination of what will ultimately be the best way to deliver and produce music (hopefully it’s not the record labels that figure it out).
Earlier today I read that Korn would be releasing 4 digital EP’s throughout the year and would be available to users who pay a monthly subscription on their site. My first reaction is amazement. I really didn’t expect to see a band like Korn try and come up with it’s own model. I start doing some research and find out that the material on these EP’s are unreleased tracks and a demo version of a new song which appear on their “real” release.
That’s all I needed to see to know that this is more of a fan club then anything else. Yes they are giving away 4 digital EP’s but it’s not your main release. You still have a major label to push your main album. I can’t say that I’ve ever thought about it before, but unless you are willing to put your best stuff on the line with none of the traditional hand rails to guide you through the process, then it’s not breaking any new ground. I will say in Korn’s defense that they aren’t pushing it like they are the next NIN’s or anything like that but when you read the headline it certainly looks like they are trying something different.
So what if this was their main release? What if they really did separate the main record into 4 EP’s spread out a 12 month span. Well at $6.95 a month, the fans would be paying a much higher price if they stayed in the entire year but if the band could offer more value then it does become a bit more interesting. I love the idea of continuity but I really think you would have to offer a version that could be purchased or given away in combination. However if you did that then it becomes a fan club again. Would users be willing to pay more (like a subscription) but also receive more stuff like tickets, merchandise, etc but without any other alternative to get the album? Legal alternative that is! Yeah that could be a problem.
Obviously the plan needs work but someone will eventually figure it out. Until then, I consider myself very lucky to be living in a time of such uncharted territory and with the opportunity to see it unfold and even contribute myself as a musician.
