Via the band’s official website, Smashing Pumpkins lead singer Billy Corgan has announced that the band’s upcoming album, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope will be released completely free, and feature 44 tracks.
The songs will be completely free through the band’s website and will not even require an email address to download.
Says Corgan: “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.”
In order to make money, the band will sell “highly limited edition EP’s (of 4 songs each times 11).” The EPs will come with art and will serve as “collectors items” for long time fans, adds Corgan.
The band may “also offer other variations for sale, say for example a digital single with a demo version of a song.”
Corgan oncludes: The commitment that is most important is the one I’m making to you: that the music of ‘Teargarden by Kaleidyscope’ will be available for free to everyone. All 44 songs: free for ALL.
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Citing a change in the musical landscape over the past few years, the rock band The Smashing Pumpkins have announced they will no longer record any new albums and instead will release singles for iTunes only.
The once extremely popular band who took a 7 year break before returning in 2007 noted that “disappointing sales and a comparatively poor reception” for their comeback album ‘Zeitgeist’ also influenced the decision.
Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins guitarist and lead vocalist, added, “We’re done with that. There is no point. People don’t even listen to it all. They put it on their iPod, they drag over the two singles and skip over the rest.”
“The listening patterns have changed, so why are we killing ourselves to do albums, to create balance and do the arty track to set up the single? It’s done.”
Corgan does feel there are some artists that can “buck the trend” because of how influential they are.
“When Bruce Springsteen puts out a new album, I pay attention. Same with Neil Young. Because they’re major artists who have something to say. I consider us in that category. When we do something it should be taken seriously, even when we’re off.”
