The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust
A project by Saul Williams, produced by Trent Renzor of NIN.
Saul told my partner Tyren once that he wouldn’t need music to get heard.
I don’t know about that, but this definitely prove that he doesn’t need a record label.

Head over to www.niggytardust.com for all the details.

The long story short:
Users can download a 192kbps MP3 version of the entire album for free, or pay $5 to support the artist and be given the choice of downloading 192kps MP3 version, 320kbps MP3 version or lossless FLAC version.

This what Trent Renzor had to say:

There are obvious similarities in how Radiohead just released their new record and the way we’ve chosen to. After thinking about this way too much, I feel we’ve improved upon their idea in a few profound ways that benefit you, the consumer. You obviously will be the judge of this in the end. One thing that IS very different in our situation is that Saul’s not the household name (yet!) that Radiohead is, and that means we need your support on this more than ever. If you like what you hear, spread the word.

Saul Williams not a “household” name? In what households?
He was the star of the movie Slam, which won both the Sundance Festival Grand Jury Prize and the Cannes Camera D’Or, introducing Williams to international audience.
His album Amethyst Rock Star was produced by Rick Rubin.

This just proves my point that with traditional and non-traditional promotion, this will be THE way music will be released by both independent and major artist, and killing the preferred CD format at the same time.