Tags : digital distribution, iTunes, online music, weird al
Weird Al Embraces Modern Music Model
Leave it to Weird Al to figure out how to embrace the immediacy of the digital age. The parody-happy singer has announced he’s going to start releasing his new songs online track-by-track, as they’re completed, rather than waiting for a full album to go on sale.
“This is extremely exciting for me,” Al writes in a recent blog posting. “One of the hardest things I’ve had to deal with in my career is keeping my material topical even though I only release albums every 3 or 4 years. Now, with the advent and popularity of digital distribution, I don’t have to wait around while my songs get old and dated — I can get them out on the Internet almost immediately. It kind of boggles my mind — I thought of the idea for this new song a week ago, and next week it’s getting released!”
Weird Al’s not yet revealing what the song is, but he says it’s a parody of a tune “that very recently was (or perhaps still is) the number one song” in the U.S. — something he describes as “another first” for him. The track will go up on iTunes next Tuesday, October 7.
In a time with such uncertainty about the future of physical music, our odd friend’s willingness to step back from the album-centric approach without abandoning it altogether is admirable. And there’s nothing weird about that.
Maybe certain other bands with antiquated ideas about digital distribution should start listening.
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