Is ministry using Torrents? Are they giving access to the source material for their music for remixes? Do they license content under Creative Commons? Have they provided their fans with 400+ GB of tour videos? Have they come up with apps for their fans? or a social networking website? Do they even listen to them?

Now, because what matters here in crunchgear is the technology behind all this, let’s listen to all those who don’t like NIN name bands that have:

Given away not four records (Ghosts I, The Slip plus 2 tour samples Lights over North America and NIN | JA),
Access to their source material to freely remix (even the old songs),
Licenced their newest content Creative Commons,
Uploaded their content to Torrent Trackers (such as TPB),
Created a social network website around their content and the fan remixes and videos,
Posted video of their latest tour (or even making the events camera-friendly) all 400+ GB of professionally captured footage and audio for free on the web (while still on tour),
Embrace the internet (youtube, flickr are used too by the band)

… and still managed to

Create visuals for one of the most awesome concert displays ever (in all it’s LED glory),
Actually make money out of it all,
Keep an active fanbase interested

Granted, NIN might not suit your taste, but the ideas behind the band (leaving the labels, distributing your material, embracing the internet, listening to your fans, etc) would surely be great for many bands that you might like.

If it is time to embrace 21st century, lets see some new bands follow Trent steps.

what sucks about today’s music biz is all the olds trying to stay alive by pump’n crap to stay alive.

i actually think the olds need to die and make way for the new… say like something from the 21st century.

http://www.funker-vogt.com/