Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
sorry. http://www.southerndiscomfort.com
  

    
That's great to hear, <sd>!
  

    
Smashing Pumpkins, the Offspring, and Radiohead have all released new albums
directly to the Internet in the last week.  The thinking is that this stuff
is going to get sucked into Napster anyway, so one might as well get some
cred with the kids/turn it into a promotional event.

Actually, Radiohead is working with us to promote their latest offering, KID
A.  You can listen to the album for free at http://www.angrycoffee.com
today, and in won't be sold in stores for weeks.

Of course, you can also get the entire album using Napster.

Is this the wave of the future or sheer desperation?  We'll know when the
numbers come in on the Offspring and Radiohead records whether this drives
CD sales or replaces them.

Any predictions?
  

    

It's an interesting promotional deal, and I'm hugely glad
you're part of it, Adam (congrats!), though I think it's
a passing trend.

In three years, I predict that at least 85% of music files
on the Internet will be downloaded under the direct control
and profit of the major labels.  If not sooner, if not more.