Reznor makes $750,000 even when the music is free

[NAMOR]

By Nate Anderson | Published: March 05, 2008 - 11:04AM CT

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...

Those who wished to pay nothing could download a free version of Ghosts I. For $5, a digital version of all four albums was available, and for only $10, fans could get all the music on CD along with an immediate digital download. $75 and $300 deluxe versions were also made available and include things like a Blu-ray disc, a DVD of the multitrack audio files from the project, videos, deluxe packaging, and more.

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I would "buy" a lot more albums if I could get them for 5 bucks.

 

[dave_rhino]

Heh, I was gonna post this.

I got his new album, proud to say for free, and it's pretty good. It's all instrumental, but after the terrible lyrics of Year Zero that's a slighty improvement.

I'm glad he managed to make so much money, the first time he attempted something like this he ended up with nothing.

 

[gunslingingbird]

When Radiohead tried the same gimmick most people downloaded the album and didn't pay for it. How do they manage to make any money if they don't receive money for the album?

 

[McNab]

I haven't heard a good NIN album since The Fragile, 8 years ago?