So everyone knows the music industry is basically screwed (I blame the 90's) and if not for T-Swizz, defying the mighty Spotify by removing her albums and making people actually physically buy it, 2014 might of been the first year, in a very long time, an album did not sell over a million in the US (Taylor actually ended up doing it in a week!).
So why might hip-hop be saving the music industry (& what does this have to do with eCommerce?). First, Hip hop has always been inventive in finding ways to make money (Drugs anyone?), Jay-Z sold his first album on tape, out of the back of his car, before signing a major label deal and now Hip-Hop artists are trying some new and innovative ways to do the same thing.
The legends that are the American So Solid Crew, Wu Tang Clan, decided they were going to make one copy of their album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin and sell it to the highest bidder. Allegedly they have been offered 5 million for it (link) and will be exhibiting it at Art Basel in Miami (how, I don't quite know).
Rapper Nipsey Hustle released his latest album for free online but if you want a physical copy, it will set you back a cool 1K of the Benjamins (sorry, gone all street) with only 100 copies available. So far, according to Mr Hustle, he has already sold 60 of them. It is also not the first time he has tried a innovative way of releasing music and being paid for it. Hustle's last album, 2012's Crenshaw, you could by for $100, with 1000 available. Jay Z loved the idea so much he bought a 100. Nipsey Hustle embraces it as a way of breaking from the usual record label route, keeping creative control and also embracing the new (e.g. free music).
Of course, Tom Yorke has been trying these ideas for years, new ways, to not only get music to people but also to make money and now Hip Hop artists are giving a second chance to the music industry, even if the Wu idea seems a little extreme!
No comments:
Post a Comment