Nine Inch Nails drives free music model

Giving away some tracks proves highly successful

Iain Thomson

Some in the music industry scoffed when rock band Nine Inch Nails decided to give away one of its albums for free, but the move has grossed hundreds of thousands of dollars for the band.

Front man Trent Reznor announced last week that the band was releasing 36 new tracks, the equivalent of four albums, and making the first nine tracks free to download.

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The band also offered a variety of physical media that fans could buy, and they have done just that.

The signed Ultra-Deluxe Limited Edition Package that came with high quality downloads, two CDs, a data DVD, a Blu-ray high def DVD and some extras sold out in less than a week, bringing in $750,000 in revenue.

Nine Inch Nails hit the headlines last year when Reznor urged fans in Australia to steal their music rather than pay the high price demanded by the record companies.

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Further reading

Nine Inch Nails tells fans to steal music

Trent Reznor expresses outrage at cost of band's CDs

Sellaband success prompts industry rethink

Alternative record label gives cause for thought

Mobile users tune-in to the radio

Use of radio via mobile surges 140 per cent in 12 months

Web record companies fight for clients

New music industry as fractious as last one

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