Free Download an iTunes Shot In The Arm For Moby
Written by enigmax on July 06, 2009Released on June 30th, Wait for Me is Moby’s ninth studio album. On April 15th fans got an early taster when Moby gave away “Shot in the Back of the Head” – a track from the album – for free. Now, according to Moby himself, that track is his best selling single on iTunes – even though anyone can still download it for nothing.
On April 14th 2009, Moby announced the details of his just released album ‘Wait for Me‘. The 16 track offering would be released on June 30th on his own Little Idiot/Mute label but to whet the appetite of his fans, Moby decided to give them a taster of things to come.
The first single from the album was “Shot in the Back of the Head” which is accompanied by a video directed by none other than David Lynch. However, instead of being forced to put their hands in their pockets to pay for the track, Moby released the track for free download directly from his site. Indeed, even though the album is released, anyone can still obtain that particular track for free, completely legally.
Moby sees the future
So of course, thousands and thousands of Moby fans have been downloading the track for free (just like many could do from file-sharing networks) and this has been hitting Moby financially.
Readers will be heartened to know that the above paragraph is nonsense. Moby is doing very well indeed from that track thank you very much, despite its ‘free’ status – or maybe because it’s free.
In an email to US music industry figure Bob Lefsetz, Moby revealed something of great interest;
“The album just came out and it would be #1 [in the] euro charts if not for michael jackson re-releases. So that’s good. But here’s something funny: the best selling itunes track is ’shot in the back of the head’. Why is that funny?”
“Because its the track we’ve been giving away for free for the last 2 months and that we’re still giving away for free. Odd.”
Do your part in making Moby even more successful by downloading his track “Shot in the Back of the Head” for free, here. Judging from the comments, Moby’s fans love his music and are very grateful indeed.
Free downloads don’t equal lost sales but actually increase them? What will they think of next?
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66 Responses
Nice track! Nice one Mr Moby
This is fantastic!
Now lets pray for a new structure in the whole industry, they need to adapt, just like Moby and his miniscule record company.
Oh, and Moby rules.
You guys are missing the point of this article.. It’s not whether Moby is good or bad, but the fact that even though he offered a free download of the song weeks before the official release, people are still willing to pay for his music and, in this case atleast, it boosted his sales. That’s how I understood it atleast…
I’d have to agree with the negative comments regarding Moby’s music. Any 10 year old with a computer could put it together. Still, as a clever businessman he’s understood the positive effect of some flashy “get it for free // f*ck RIAA” propaganda on his record sales.
Don’t think he’s a hero : he’s just a greedy nerd. XD
Interesting… Would be cool to run some poll among iTunes buyers to see how many knew that it was free and for which reasons they bought it.
ME love moby :)
why do we need to convince the GREEDY PIGS of what we KNEW before this?
why not tell them the truth: STFU & DIE
DIIIIIIEEEE
Really liked Fiery Gun Hand on the Sing to God album.
Moby is awesome, you guys are fags.
Nice thinking Moby.But the track sounds like the closing credits from some B Movie. The same music you leave your seat and go home to. Why on earth would I want to buy it?. It sounds like a million and one other tunes out there.
Besides all that. Cheers Moby. Nice one…
hey,nice track …really
Now if only the RIAA would take notice; alas no.
They’ve got their head in their asses to far too see things clearly.
sounds like a very cheap rip off of “God Speed you black emperor”’s LP “F?A??” <- and yes that is the name of the album.
That would be the “Doctorow Effect”, as experienced by Cory Doctorow. When he releases his short stories with CC licences he makes more sales from those stories, even though they’re all available for free.
–fanboy
Interesting point the story made will be interesting to look into sales data of other tracks that have been releases early for free. The negative comments above about the artist/track completely wasted my time.
I’m just waiting for the spook reasoned mind to spout something about this.
people are selfish but it might work. :)
Reasoned mind hasn’t been around for a few articles… i wonder if someone got fed up and made his compy go boom.
hey reasoned mind get out here!. oh yeah i forgot you only post on things that are bad to try and intimidate people into beliving your bs.
Jesus Christ.
Listening to the first 60 seconds of “Shot in the Back of the Head” makes me want to be shot in the back of the head. Moby, you deserve some sort of award for worst abuse of the right stereo channel, ever.
That isn’t important, though. The important thing is that “Shot in the Back of the Head” is currently the single best selling track on iTunes despite the fact that anybody can download it for free straight from Moby’s own website. In addition, of course, to getting it through filesharing.
I’d love to hear the RIAA’s rationale for this. I thought people who download music for free were cheapskates with an entitlement complex that never pay for anything? I thought any artist “foolish” enough to voluntarily give away their music for free would end up broke and living in a cardboard box? Oh, Reasoned Mind/neostyles? Won’t you come here for a minute? You have some explaining to do, young man.
I no longer feel so “Reasoned” … this stunt kills most of my pathetic arguments in one shot … to the back of my pointy noggin, you might say.
I guess you guys were right all along… <3
I’m still waiting for a TPB.torrent.
I’d seed thad.
@ 23
Well, that’s the thing: free track = free publicity = best $elling.
$imple arithmetic and you don’t have to be Reasoned to get it.
Regards,
Moby
That’s about the same principle Magnatune has been following for years: make the songs available in high quality for free, and people will eventually come around and reward you ^^
Even though I didn’t like the song, moby ftw! This is the kind of stuff that the musicindustry needs to do. unfortunately the majority of all record labels are run by greedy retards.
Just more proof the corporate pigs are dead wrong.
14–>Now if only the RIAA would take notice; alas no.
—————
The RIAA already knew this reality. They know it better that any person on this world that filesharing doesn’t hurt sales, and in fact, the RIAA also know very well that they are redundant and obsolete in this digital age.
They also know very well that SHARING any goods with others is not a crime (and never was).
In other words, the RIAA on purpose has been deceiving to the people and hiding the reality with its BIG LIES.
Thanks moby! I will continue to buy your records though :D
To all of you guys who don’t like my music : I know my music is poop in a box but if it sells why stop? And I knew I could trick people to buy my stuff just because I play the gay anti-corporate hero. PWNED!!!!!!
@ 31
Giving away just one free track from an entire CD is hardly “playing the gay anti-corporate hero” … but your “logic” reeks of Reasoned Mind, so it’s not exactly surprising to see that you’ve missed the point once again. I could personally care less about Moby or his music … I prefer Metal myself … but the guy proved you and your industry overlords wrong … and I respect him for that. Now, troll elsewhere … you spineless excuse of a corporate shill.
“PWNED!!!!!!!,” as you’d say… =)
i always loved moby since i first got into dance music in 1993. he’s still kicking it strong and is just as relevant now as ever.
I’d rather die than buy anything from itunes.
I download music, then I buy a cd if I like.
Bytes are worth nothing more than the electricity you pay for them.
And I don’t mean cds from people who roll with riaa bastards
This could mean two things:
1. RIAA is dead wrong and should STFU.
2. iTunes users are fucking stupid.
He’s not around…and it just seems so sad without his blathering…so let me try.
Oh…piracy is so illegal. Oh it’s wrong, oh the poor starving artists and thieves are forcing them to live on food stamps. oh the poor multi-millionaire executives and lawyers are losing so much money.
oh piracy is against the law and a sin…oh you’re all gonna burn in in hell. oh i don’t know why you don’t just give all your money to the artists, executives and lawyers..
oooh oooooooh OOHH!
etc.
just the executives and the lawyers.
It’s like Iraq. Pretend to free the people, and go for the oil ;D
first time i have ever heard of him, i like the track mind. Nice to have an artist given music away for all to enjoy it.
Cool Story Sister :p
Stop free downloads! It’s killing music!!!110
No that is walking and not just talking LoL
oops! correction:
Now that’s walking and not just talking LoL
nice for free!
like the song it’s a little crazy
bro story cool (:
That’s a ’shot in the head of the MAFIAA’ :D
Give the whole album away in FLAC and for free like Trent Reznor did, and then I’ll be impressed.
I suppose most will insist on baby steps, though.
great song!
How many buyers of the iTunes download knew that this song was available for free at Mobys website?
My guess: close to zero.
Saying that this giving away for free generated sales is stupid.
Haven’t bought (or downloaded) anything from Moby lately.
I’m heading over to iTunes if I can remember my password…
I don’t think there’s a single pirate who doesn’t know that ARTIST HARDLY GET ANYTHING from records sold.
They make their money from concerts sponsorship and other things.
Hopefully new ways will emerge for talented musicians to make a good living off their skills.
It’s the fat cats at the studios who I don’t want to support…
Hey Bollywood man, what’s up, why isn’t the story cool this time?
You crossed it over!
(: orb yrots looc
Yes I started it manky haha..Now my minions have made you obsolete, what a shame lmao
Whoh, is this THE Moby? Like… “Moby – Extreme Ways” Moby? [From Bourne Identity and the rest.]
Downloading the free one now!
If you go through itunes (on the iphone anyway) you have to pay 99 cents for the track. I thought you said it was free? Oh the disappointment
Oh.. wait. I get it. That’s why it’s funny that it sells a lot on itunes. Because it’s NOT free there but free on the site. Today’s my extra slow day I guess
…the track is free on HIS site
itunes is does not belong to moby
its SELLING well on itunes
were it free on itunes it wouldnt be considered selling,
read or learn to read then read
am i the only one who assumes that iTunes (like many other stores I shop at that give away then odd song here and there) is ACTUALLY COUNTING THE FREE DOWNLOADS AS PART OF THE CHARTS?
oh nevermind, it’s not free on iTunes, only his site. I mis-read that.
moby is getting shot
http://kaputik.com/
If ever Moby returns to rave I’ll buy his album! And possibly eat my shoe, too. Nothing but respect for his trust and outspokenness in humanity though.
New record label in Canada willing to pay artists 50% of profits through DRM-free digital distribution.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/07/07/record-label.html
This will so upset Reasoned Mind….!
Story Bro Cool :(
Wait, so he’s surprised that a free track sells the most?
That’s common sense, releasing one free track is obviously going to make more people download it.
Why did you remove my comment? I guess the truth isn’t free.
i have bought my music legally all my life…now thanks to moby’s free song i will never buy music again…thank you moby for showing me the way
63 Jul 09, 2009 at 23:06 by dicky <– this must be an idiot from RIAA
Obviously, if people like the work they’ll buy as thanks and as incentive for the artist, that is, if those imbeciles from the phonographic industry are paying the artists as they should.
RIAA and friends are the only one that haven’t noticed that.
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When I read this:
“So of course, thousands and thousands of Moby fans have been downloading the track for free (just like many could do from file-sharing networks) and this has been hitting Moby financially.”
I got really sad because I thought you were referring to the hosting costs… Yay P2P!
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