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Trent Reznor makes $750k by giving music away

by Jarrett Martineau | March 5, 2008 at 05:55 pm

1129 views | 14 Recommendations | 9 comments

Is this a viable new model for selling music? Post a few freebies, circulate some cheap digital tunes, and then offer an ultra-mega-super-uber-deluxe package for a few hundred a piece. Where it failed for Niggy Tardust, it certainly seems to have worked for NIN.

And selling an instrumental album, no less.

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails made headlines again this week as he released his new, four-part instrumental album Ghosts I-IV, at a variety of price points, including a $300 super-deluxe package. He's also giving away Ghosts I at no charge, even throwing the tracks up on The Pirate Bay for anyone to download. And it appears to be working quite well for Reznor, who has managed to sell all 2,500 copies of his $300 package without major label backing or much in the way of splashy marketing. If Reznor's earlier experiments in digital distribution failed to recoup their costs, he's clearly learned his lesson: grossing $750,000 in the space of three days isn't a bad haul for any businessperson.

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kberg

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 18:26 on March 5th, 2008

Sounds pretty cool! I'm going to look for a free copy online. I ain't got $300 for an album, I don't care how deluxe it is!

hungeski

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 18:29 on March 5th, 2008

This looks like the way to go for any artist that already has a big following.

Jarrett Martineau

at 23:57 on March 5th, 2008

Thanks for the photos everyone, great album artwork!

sunbeam60

at 01:20 on March 6th, 2008

When trying to download from the link sent out by NIN, no options were given and the download couldn't be initiated.

sunbeam60 has contributed a photo to this story.

Rob Walker

at 05:44 on March 6th, 2008

Last time I checked the site, Reznor stated their servers were getting hammered. I believe it's up on public tracker sites, just google it and there should be tons of alternate download links. It's not my favorite album of his by any stretch, but it's not bad considering the cost!

Jordan Yerman

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:03 on March 6th, 2008

It looks like Reznor learned the "long tail" lesson from the Saul Williams download experiment, including multiple price points: the holy-cow-that's-expensive deluxe editions are sold out, but anyone can still get the ten-buck version or the free version... the ultimate goal being to sell concert tickets.

Emerie May

at 09:09 on March 6th, 2008

Busy download day, but I got mine =) I sprang for the $5 dollar version BTW

Emerie May has contributed a photo to this story.

Anderson Costa

at 11:10 on March 9th, 2008

This is one of the NIN Ghost wallpapers i've choosed for my desktop.

Anderson Costa has contributed a photo to this story.

ktlnstr147

at 13:54 on March 11th, 2008

NIN's brand new album, "Ghosts" included these amazing photos. I've been so inspired by Trent Reznor’s new release that I wanted to share these incredible photos on my web site. Trent has generously uploaded some of his outstanding new music, photos and wallpaper for fans to download for free at NIN’s web site; NIN.com. If you’re not already an NIN fan, you will be after listening to some of Reznor's new music. “Ghosts I-IV” is an incredible musical journey and certainly a "must have" for anyone who collects and appreciates exceptional music. Reznor is truly an inspiration for all artists and has proven to be one of the greatest musicians of all time!

I am one of the few fortunate NIN fans who can proudly say they own the "Super Deluxe Edition" to be sent out on the 1st of May. Owners of the "Ghosts" super deluxe edition could immediately download and enjoy the entire collection and some photos. I am anxiously looking forward to receiving the book (with signed NIN photos) that includes CD's, DVD and Blu-ray. Look for new updates with photos on my web page in May.

Congratulation’s Trent, you totally rock!!

Kaitlyn Christensen;

Email: ktlnstr147@gmail.com   ktlnstr147has contributed a photo to this story.