A major music industry announcement was made earlier today with regard to future releases. Pearl Jam, arguably one of the most popular and influential acts in the 1990s and beyond, confirmed through their long-time manager, Kelly Curtis, on Billboard today, that their forthcoming album will be released
without a U.S. label, but a consortium of partners including Target, as the big box retail partner. . .[while] deals [are] also finished or in the works with an online retailer, a mobile partner, a gaming company and with a network or possibly networks of indie retail stores.
Read the entire article here.
While much of the attention is being placed on whether a band so strongly entrenched in their beliefs against corporate exposure and influence has finally ‘sold out’ by signing an exclusive agreement with Target, could this be viewed as a new distribution model for music consumerism? In other words, is this a no-choice attempt to sell albums or simply a way of truly releasing independent music? Please discuss.
In other news, the band will be debuting a song on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien this evening. A brand new song on a brand new show. Coincidence?
I enjoyed the Tonight Show performance, although I couldn’t make out most of Vedder’s lyrics. I know that could be a new, old thing. I’m looking forward to the album and especially seeing them at Austin City Limits!