It seems as if everyone is trying to change the music business these days. Tom from MySpace tried and failed miserably. Jigga’s foray into innovation with LiveNation is still dependent on whether he can make it work with another, less-Hovtastic artist. Radiohead’s pay-whatever-you-think-it’s-worth-gimmick eventually worked. Shit, Steve Jobs is the only one that actually unquestionably succeeded.
Now, another name can added to that flimsy list: Blink 182′s angst-filled vocalist Tom DeLonge.
After spilling the beans to reporters during another band’s interview with New York Times, DeLonge ended up elaborating to Billboard his plans to ‘redefine the music business’ via his new, online marketplace, Modlife.
“Love” will be available as a free download on Angels & Airwaves’ Web site, and a deluxe version of the album will be sold at stores and digital retailers, including iTunes, for about $5-$10.
…To help market and promote the album, Angels & Airwaves partnered with Live Nation, Fuel TV and Hurley, among others, to feature the download link on their Web sites and send e-mail blasts to their customer databases. The combined lists will reach about 55 million people, according to DeLonge.
DeLonge hopes to distribute at least 20 million downloads of the free album. His intention is to expose Angels & Airwaves’ music to as many people as possible, with the idea that those new fans will return to the band’s Modlife-powered Web site and buy merchandise or sign up for a premium membership, which costs $6.95 per month and gives access to advance ticketing and digital content.
Since DeLonge’s mediocre side-band still sees success based on his participation alone, I’m assuming the beloved Blink moniker will be enough to help him continue to capitalize and end up turning the somewhat-sketchy Modlife into a prosperous venture as well. However, for artists and groups without such die hard fan bases, a monthly subscription for music might be asking a bit much. Especially with all those, um…real bills to pay.
Dude From Blink-182 to ‘Redefine the Music Business’ [Vulture]
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Yeah… $6.95 per month is too much presently.
Maybe 10 years ago.
Not anymore Tom.
I don’t know about the monthly fee but I know folks who’d bite on the chance to buy good tix first. We’re years away from finding a happy medium but I’m glad artists are putting themselves @ the forefront or at least trying to. I hope they get their paperwork right so they get their paper straight.
i thought about this alot. it is honestly gonna come down to sites like this to hod the edge. i think the Radiohead/GirlTalk download for free or fee deal is they way. that way you have a grasp on how many DL’s your getting, and to be honest, it is gonna bring the artist more money as a whole. Major labels will be done, and it is deserved due mainly to how they completely raped artists in the early days of recorded music. they deserve to fall.