The Rodeo

Etienne Deleflie has created a surround sound format that provides true three-dimensional sound (including height, something that normal surround sound doesn’t provide). As of this Friday, he will no longer sit at the desk opposite me, but will attempt to make a living by giving stuff away.

He has written two posts explaining why someone might want to purchase a CD of these ambisonic recordings, when they can download the contents for free (legally).

There is a growing trend to provide free goods and services and to make money from things secondary to the main business. Craig points to a rant by the retiring Science Fiction Writers Association president, blasting “web scabs” who publish content for free on the web and who are eroding the efforts of old-school writers who continue to sell in the traditional manner – ie, not giving their work away for free.

What must hurt them even more is that the current number one science fiction book on Amazon was made available 5 weeks before hand as a freely downloadable file.

John Piper gives away all his books for free – and still sees big sales of the dead-tree manifestations of the same works.

Often, as in the case of webcomics, the artist makes money from the sale of secondary items, posters, prints, clothing etc, and not from the comic itself.

I think that this trend can only continue to gain ground. Copying digital files loses nothing in the transfer process, and as fast as media companies can lock their content up, it will be unlocked and distributed on the web. When there is so much content around, having to pay before finding out whether I actually want to purchase something makes me far more likely to just look for something else that I can try first.

I’m currently listening to a CD my sister owns, and I’ll more than likely buy it myself – partly to support the artists, and partly because I want a copy of my very own. There’s something satisfying about exchanging money for a real, physical object. I like having CDs around (it also means that once I’ve ripped them to my PC, I have a backup around should I need it).

I would appear that free distribution has the potential to work wonders for media producers, and there is a good chance more people will want to fork out for someone who has given them something for free.

Also – go check out Ambisonia, especially if you have a surround sound system and are interested in good, free, sound.

What do you think about giving stuff away to promote sales?

RodeoClown: Trying, then buying.

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