Brilliant New Business Model Revealed

I love this one. I love the optimism and the fighting spirit and I love the idea that giving away your product to get any attention whatsoever is seen as a great victory. To summarise: The Charlatans - quite a lot of people's third favourite band 12 years ago - have reached a point in their career where they have to give away their music and, apparently, this is a really good thing! Are the gigs going to be free too?

Forwarded Message
From: coalitiongroup.co.uk
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:19:02 +0000
Subject: The Charlatans Downloads now at over 60,000 in one week

The Charlatans
Over 60,000 Downloads in one week

The Charlatans’ new album, ‘You Cross My Path’, has been downloaded over 60,000 times since it was made available on Xfm’s website last Monday – a phenomenal number which would have seen the album enter the UK chart at number two if conventionally released [erm, except it wouldn't as then people would have had to pay for it, which might have put a good few off, surely?].

The album is currently available as a free download on www.xfm.co.uk. Says the band’s manager, Alan McGee: “I feel we are totally vindicated with the philosophy that if you go free and make a great record, you can exceed your dreams. No longer does music have to work in the traditional major label dominated way. Long live the Charlatans.”

Says the band’s vocalist Tim Burgess: “When Alan McGee and I had this idea 18 months ago, we never imagined that it could be this successful. It’s a tribute to people’s belief in us and if we were in the shops, 20 years after the Charlatans started, we would be the number two most popular group in the country this week – going free was the best thing for us. Thanks to everyone that has downloaded the record, cheers.”