Smashing Pumpkins Offer $40 Subscriptions
A Free Corgan Brings Fans "Behind The Wizard's Curtain" And Asks Them For Input."For many years I've been really unhappy with the stupidity of the music business," admits Smashing Pumpkin leader Billy Corgan. "But now I am free from corporate meddling. No contracts, no deadlines to meet." But he's far from idle. Corgan is quote busy writing, rehearsing a new band, recording, exploring side projects and starting up his own subscription service.
Exactly how Corgan's subscription model will work is still be debatedut, but including new material is not out of the question and he's asking his fans to help him decide,. "I guess we as a community could throw out how many people would be interested in that as an idea. It would definitely have to be something that would be worth the effort on all sides."
Details of the Corgan's subscription so far:
- $40 for 12 weeks. A minimum of 5 updates from the studio per week, so that's 60 updates for $40.
- Updates would be posted in a less-than-24-hour consistency. For instance, if something happened on Monday, it would be posted no later than Tuesday
- Each update would be a minimum of 5 minutes in length. That would mean subscribers would receive at least 25 minutes of unique audio/video material per week, and at least 5 hours over the course of the 12 weeks.
- There is a possibility of live streaming video content in addition to what has been presented above.
- The updates will ultimately be part of a substantial "art film."
it’s always funny to me how these “artists” send out press releases that make the music industry look like the bad guys and then they rip their fans off. Doesnt “Billy” or his team know video content is free in the eyes of the consumer? Are they still in 2005? Charging 40 dollars to update fans is a slap in the face of everyone who’s ever supported the band and trying to frame it as his way of getting away from the music industry is a nothing more than a label trying to convince fans that paying 10 dollars for anything Billy Corgan does anymore is a good investment.
Billy Corgan lost most of his mind when Zwan broke up. Hope he gets back on track asap. It makes me sad to see one of my favourite artists turn into some corporate money-making machine (selling songs to car commercials, “reuniting” with him now being the only original member, just for the fame of the name etc). I could forgive him if just the music was any good. He should really learn a thing or two from Trent Reznor, who throws free stuff out every month and still makes loads of money.
Mike M. said…
it’s always funny to me how these “artists” send out press releases that make the music industry look like the bad guys
Uh, Mike M: the music industry, or more specifically, major record labels, are indeed the bad guys, goodbye Major’s–your history!
you’re history
This seems like a rip off to the fans. I actually think Trent Renzor has a better business model. What would make more sense is give all of that stuff away for free (studio insight, updates, song samples, etc), then maybe make a box set, limited edition, or package and sell THAT for $40 or more. I think fans would be more incline to purchase a physical product vs virtual media. I’m sure he’ll still charge the fans for the finished product. Does not seem like a long term way to keep fans, but a quick way for him to make a buck.
I am not going to rip musicians for trying to find creative ways to monetize their activities. Truthfully, good for him for coming up with and testing out new ideas.
It certainly will take time and expense to set up the infrastructure to get people behind the scene access like he proposes, and if some people want to pay for this access, good for them. For those that don’t, they won’t. No big deal either way.
http://www.VolumeEleven.net – Music News for Music People
How much money do the artists need to keep up that lifestyle that none of their fans come close to experiencing?