The Smashing Pumpkins new "album"

**transitioned** · 09-18-2009 06:32 PM

Billy Corgan's announcement on SP official website.

(...)The album will feature 44 songs, 4 of which are now being recorded. My desire is to release a song at a time beginning around Halloween of this year, with each new release coming shortly after until all 44 are out. Each song will be made available absolutely for free, to anyone anywhere. There will be no strings attached. Free will mean free, which means you won't have to sign up for anything, give an email address, or jump through a hoop. You will be able to go and take the song or songs as you wish, as many times as you wish.(...)

Smashing Pumpkins dot com | announcement from billy corgan about new smashing pumpkins album

oh the times they are a changing lalala

**TwinTown Skater** · 09-19-2009 07:28 AM

Excellent find, and very cool.

While I agree that the times are ripe for change, I'm less positive that they are actually changing however. Releasing music for free works for established mega artists, because there are so many tie ins that they can monetize the effort. But for the small struggling artist, that route is a touger road. Neat article I saw this morning on somebody who is making it work:

Owl City's success jumps from web to stage, sales
Adam Young loves God, Owatonna and his parents. Now MySpace users apparently love his music, which has millions of listens.

Owl City's success jumps from web to stage, sales | StarTribune.com

(The guy isn't my style, - its the making it work I refer to.)

All that said, the current label - artist relationship is pretty darn non functional as well, and to your point, new technologies are capable of completely changing the dynamic. However today's powerbrokers are not going to let that slip away without a fight tooth and nail.

**eastvalleymike** · 09-20-2009 09:47 AM

I just wanna say that the second I clicked to open this thread, "Hello Kitty Kat" by the Pumpkins came on my itunes. It nice to see some artists/bands like to give back once in a while. Way to go Billy!!!