NIN

I read an article on Salon today about Nine Inch Nails and their new album. It was really interesting, because instead of signing with a record lable, they are changing the way their music is distributed all together. They have compiled a 4 part album. They are offering the first part to listeners for free. They can download it off their website. They have also put the first part onto music sharing sits, like BitTorrent. Most artists, would hate to have their music be on there, but NIN is embracing this. They also have various packages for listeners to purchase their music online. 

Another really unique thing about this album is that NIN isn't concerned about copying. They actually want people to copy their music. Instead of the normal copyright that is put on albums, they have a creative commons license for it. Which means that other people can copy it or even re-mix it for their own personal use.

I think that NIN is ahead of their time. They are really embracing the essence of the online community and instead of fighting it they are trying to make it work to their advantage. More and more artists will hopefully start providing new formats for their listeners. They might not be profitable from it this first time, but it will be interesting to see how everything turns out.