iTunes offering free streaming of new RHCP Album

Perhaps I have been under a rock, or simply not paying attention, but it would appear that iTunes is now offering pre-release streams of upcoming albums.

The Red Hot Chili Pepers' new album, "I'm With You"  is now available for listening at iTunes .  It will be streaming free until the album's release date.   In addition to streaming via iTunes, the Chili Peppers are also hosting a slew of streaming listening parties World-wide for interested fans.  For more information, check out their website.

It certainly would appear that RHCP has taken an agressive 360 degree marketing campaign on their upcoming release.  Between their listening parties, twitter meme, iTunes, and Livestream partnership and revamped website featuring global imaging by Google they are certainly pulling out all the stops.  As I type this I am two tracks in and so far Anthony, Flea, Chad and Josh continue to deliver that pure RHCP sound two decades after their music caught my ear initially.  Go have a listen!

Lady Gaga only worth 99¢

Well, this isn't my personal opinion... but according to Amazon.com today Lady Gaga's newest album (featuring the fastest selling Single in history)  is available for 99¢.  I'm not sure if I view this as the deal of a century or an absolutely offensive indicator of where the music business is going...  Of course what Amazon and Gaga are banking on is the fact that people who would have NEVER bought her full length album (like me) will now buy it, consume it, become fans, buy concert tickets/t-shirts/keychains, and join the legions of other Monster faithful in the cult of Gaga.  Incidentally, you can get all of the above from Amazon (except for the tickets- but I am sure they will find a way into that racket soon enough.)

The thing about this move that keeps me wondering is will the tonnage of sales of this one day $! album mean vast revenues for Lady Gaga and Interscope, or will it only cheapen her product when it has a retail face value more in line with what we are used to?    Certainly this is a calculated move, but really?  The whole album is only worth $1?  REALLY?  Of course this is not the first time an established act has done something outside of the box with a new release...  Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and the entire label X5 have had releases built around the discount album but I find it hard to believe that arguably the most marketable name in pop music needs to result to this type of fumblrooskie on her album launch to gain (even more) chart dominance.  I would love to know if there is any back-end remuneration happening from Amazon on this "promotion."

File this one under "things that make me scratch my head" and "too cheap not to give it a try".  Here goes nothing...

Pitchfork Media + Spotify = Awesome

What kind of new math is this?  Awesome new math.

Pitchfork, known for their stellar reviews and trend-setting in underground music and Spotify known for mostly not being available in the US being such a fantastic streaming alternative for those wishing to consume without owning music have been teamed up to bring a stellar new site/service.  Pitchify marries the reviews and ratings of Pitchfork with the audio files of Spotify, making it easy for the user to discover and immediately hear new music.  This service seamlessly connects the dots between the two sites making for a great listening experience.  For those few that actually have access to Spotify, I recommend checking it out!