Cult indie label Sub Pop toy with the idea of only charging for merchandise and giving music away for free.
The label's art director Jeff Kleinsmith spoke to Seattle Weekly recently about the possibility of only selling things like concert posters and tee-shirts, which will come with a digital download of the associated band.Sub Pop's general manager Megan Jasper has expanded on the idea, as the label considers "flipping our strategy".
While these associated goodies used to be given away for free with albums, they'd turn it around and get people to "pay for the toy and receive the music for free".
Artwork, packaging and merch seem to be the only things that are driving sales (demonstrated by the increase in vinyl purchases), so this might be another way to make the industry model profitable.
Best known for signing Nirvana at the beginning of their career and helping popularise Seattle's grunge sound, Sub Pop are experiencing a bit of a revival of late.
They've had recent hipster success with garage-pop dudes Jaill, no wave act No Age, ornate folkie Kelley Stoltz, as well acts like Wolf Parade and Blitzen Trapper.
