Wu-Tang Clan to sell only one copy of their upcoming album to the highest bidder

[JcGross]

In an interesting experiment Wu-Tang Clan has decided to sell their upcoming album to only one person, the highest bidder, who will then be able to do anything with it, put it on the internet for free, monetize on it further by selling it, keeping it all to themselves or burning it in their backyard. Wu-Tang Clan member Robert "RZA" Diggs said “The idea that music is art has been something we advocated for year.  And yet it doesn’t receive the same treatment as art in the sense of the value of what it is, especially nowadays when it’s been devalued and diminished to almost the point that it has to be given away for free." It's an interesting statement, especially if we consider that all we hear about nowdays is how Apple revitalized the music industry with iTunes, and how Spotify is the greatest thing ever, it looks like it's not as beneficiary for the artists themselves.

 

EDIT: I forgot to say that they already have a $5 million bid, which is the main point of the post. Bit of a fail on my part.

 

http://madamenoire.com/414316/wu-tang-clan-will-sell-single-copy-new-album/

 

http://pitchfork.com/news/54828-wu-tang-clan-fans-launch-kickstarter-to-bid-on-one-of-a-kind-album-give-music-away-for-free/

 

PS: This is actually "old" news, but I only heard about it today on Penn's Sunday School, and I didn't find anything about this on the forums. I find it very interesting though and wonder what people think of this.

[ShadowCaptain]

this is pretty cool, cant wait to see how it pans out

 

 

lol is this because only one person ever buys their albums?

 

this is the wu-tang clan. even my parents have heard of them and they don't like hip hop at all

[Common_Courtesy]

I don't really know what to make of this, it's a interesting idea for sure. Although they could screw themselves up big time if this goes badly... Unless they go back on their word and release it to everyone at a later date.

[Kevinkt]

Wow this is oooollllld 

 

http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/26/5550260/wu-tang-clan-will-only-sell-a-single-copy-of-their-new-album

 

 

Like. Really old news.

[JcGross]

I don't really know what to make of this, it's a interesting idea for sure. Although they could screw themselves up big time if this goes badly... Unless they go back on their word and release it to everyone at a later date.

Oh yeah, I forgot to say, they already have a 5 million dollar bid.

[Scionyde]

I'm not a huge proponent of pirating anything but...I hope whoever wins the auction releases it on the internet. >_>

[DeViLzzz]

What this band is doing is disgusting. Music is to be shared with the world and not sold like this.

[Paralectic]

Really old news already.

[Paralectic]

What this band is doing is disgusting. Music is to be shared with the world and not sold like this.

It's sold as a piece of art, with a deeper meaning that listening to ripped MP3s.

[Scionyde]

It's sold as a piece of art, with a deeper meaning that listening to ripped MP3s.

 

Just because you pay $5 million for it and it comes in a fancy box does not make it any more/less of an art form than any other music.

 

I understand that they're also selling the copyright along with the album, which to some extent would explain the large amount of money behind it, but I really hope none of the musicians/bands I actually listen to do anything like this.

[flibberdipper]

I've never even heard of that group...

[Gunzkewl]

I've never even heard of that group...

 

That's because you are 15 years old .  They were a pretty popular hip-hop group in the early 90's

[flibberdipper]

That's because you are 15 years old .  They were a pretty popular hip-hop group in the early 90's

I dunno... I like a lot of music from the 80's, and some even before that.

[kuddlesworth9419]

Who is Wu-Tang. I would imagine that the highest bidder will let everyone get it for free. I have been in a closed off music area for years know so I know nothing about modern music. I just listen to my video game music.