creative deconstruction

Mininova Now Offering Links to Artists’ Merchandise

Posted on 31. Mar, 2009 by refe in NEWS

BitTorrent site Mininova launches a new feature today that will help artists and record labels generate revenue directly from their free torrents by adding links to their products. Users will be able to sell CD’s, merchandise, artwork, concert tickets, or whatever else they would like to offer.

Bands have been using file-sharing services like BitTorrent to freely promote themselves for a while now, so it is nice to see the gap bridged between the promotional tool and some of the products being promoted. It also might have the added benefit of helping naysayers to make the connection between free music as promotion and revenue now that someone has put it all in one place.

Dutch record label Beep! Beep! has signed up to participate and help promote the service by offering their latest release on Mininova with links that offer a 20% discount on hard copies of the album.

“As a label we want to show what new possibilities a torrent site like Mininova has to offer us. In our eyes torrent sites form an enrichment of the modern music landscape by facilitating a better distribution and more income.”

This was a smart move for Beep! Beep! for a couple of reasons. Not only will they get to take advantage of what should be a decent way to drum up some new revenue, they have also gotten a blast of free publicity and have set themselves up as a fan-friendly label.

Tags: bittorrent, business models, file sharing, INNOVATION, MUSIC INDUSTRY