I'm a little tired, so I apologize if my thoughts aren't too concise. But I just can't help but contemplate on what the whole marketing scheme is for this free-giveaway of Planet Earth.

So, I understand that it was given away in a newspaper (3 million+ copies) and will be given away for free at the shows, as well as the free stream on MSN.com. I understand the argument that this free exposure puts the music into the hands of people that would not normally buy his albums and that it may draw more business to the live shows and his back catalogue of albums.

I wonder if people who purchase the CD will feel cheated that they have to pay for it and other people got it for free? After the tour and promotion of the album is finished, will the CD no longer be available for free anywhere? (For example, Musicology was free at the shows, but now you can no longer get it free at the shows...)

I suppose if the album was released in stores first and then he waited a few weeks and then gave it away for free in the newspaper, fans who paid would absolutely feel cheated, eh? (Didn't he do something similar to that at some point?)

What if for another idea to gain relevance with a younger audience, he did a huge college tour and gave away free copies of PURPLE RAIN (assuming he acquired permission from Warner Bros). Purple Rain was his most successful and popular album to date. Maybe to re-release it with this new free-music marketing format would be a way to revitalize his career to an audience of youngsters who may not even know who he is...

Also, will this new standard of giving away free music be a good way for lesser-known artists to make a living in the future?

A lot of questions, I know. This whole topic has really sparked a lot of debate and that can't be a bad thing!

berniejobs said:

ultimately, the crux of the dilemna comes down to this. nobody HAS to buy the cd. if you aren't happy having to pay for it when others don't, don't buy it. but only a coward makes a decision and then attempts to pass the responsibility of making that choice onto someone or something else.

with that resolved, there is no conflict in the scenario you present, unless you want to count the irrational and emotional reaction of cowards. and really, who cares about idiots who want to displace the blame of there own decision.