After reading Katie Applebaum’s statement on the current condition of the music industry, I was left with both agreeing and disagreeing opinions.
Due to the fact that anyone with a computer and internet connection can both create and listen to new music, there is an influx of creativity. Unfortunate for the aspiring artist, this surge of music makes it difficult to distinguish yourself from other artists, both new and existing.
However, current music can still change the world. It can still unite billions of people and cause shifts in social trends, it just needs to have a strong enough differentiation to cause the world to notice.
Hip-hop group, the Wu-Tang Clan, has found a way to get people to notice. The group, whose previous work has been noteworthy enough to be included in Rolling Stone’s list of “best albums of all time” release their music in the traditional method, physical copies of records, as well as digital versions of songs and albums. Their new album, “Once upon a time in Shaolin“, breaks this trend. Rather than selling millions of copies of the album, the group will release only one copy. Similar to a work of Monet or Van Gogh, the price tag will be in the millions. The album will be taken on a museum tour of the world, and the public can purchase a ticket to individually listen to the music.
Once Upon a Time in Shaolin
This unorthodox way of releasing an album has turned heads. The Wu-Tang Clan, after fading from relevancy after their initial surge, is making their way back into the spotlight. Perhaps this disruptive innovation will ultimately be a failure, but similar to a lot of other differentiation, the higher the risk, the higher the possible payoff.
Regardless of the quality of the album, its distribution will raise popularity for the group, but more importantly for them, profit. The group has always been known for making quality music, and has successfully found a way to do so, while still gaining a heavy payoff.