Official free downloads by big name artists - is this the digital future?

[Jackonicko]

I've just been looking at the Temple Cooper Clause's website.

As well as all the usual nonsense there's an 'edit some clips into a video and win an iPod' competition, and there are a set of six live tracks for free download.

These tracks were recorded on May 13th 2003, at The Cooper Temple Clause's QMU gig in Glasgow. They make up 'The Apple Bootlegs' and include:

1. Promises, Promises
2. Who Needs Enemies?
3. Let's Kill Music
4. Murder Song
5. Been Training Dogs
6. Devil Walks In The Sand

You can even download a PDF of the cover!

http://www.coopertempleclause.co.uk/applesessions/download.php

This is pretty good stuff, and I hope it pays off for the 'Clause, and that they don't lose out to the downloaders for their main releases.

I believe that The Darkness did something similar, but don't have a URL.

Anyone else have any similar sites for established, well known bands doing something similar? (Not new, cult, or minority artists.)

[loGan]

Radiohead have been doing it for years as has David Bowie, Peter Gabriel and a number of other forward thinking artists. The Darkness allow you to download their new video off their site. Prince now manages the entire process of music distribution himself having entirely cut out the middlemen.

The Rolling Stones are about to put their entire back catalogue up for download though I don't know if it will be a pay service.

This is the future of the music business. Established artists distributing their music themselves forcing the record companies to stop milking the public for easy money and actually start doing their job of finding and marketing new talent. The balance of power is shifting and it is all down to mp3.

[Jackonicko]

Do feel free to post links to similar offers....

[clintb]

www.artistsdirect.com is one I just found.

Where's the stuff from Radiohead located?

[ascot21]

Metallica has a site called Metallivault that contains live concerts for you to download for free. You get an access code to it by buying their latest album, "St. Anger".

[Evil Inside]

I posted this one in a previous thread:

http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13722


Also check out: http://www.delerium.com/media.html