Breaking the music industry

Make no mistake. If it were up to the record companies every radio/mp3 player/car stereo would have a coin slot in it, and you would shove in a quarter (or more) every time you pushed play or a song came on the radio. With pay-for downloads locked to your computer and DRM in full swing they're getting awfully close.
Fortunately there is change in the wind.
Trent Reznor of Nine inch Nails has made quite a wave in the music industry lately. He's long been known to distribute free downloads of his tracks to make available for remix. Lately he even followed in the wake of the band Raiodhead and released an entire album on-line for five-bucks. (Radiohead used a name-your-own-price model, and the album is no longer available for download.)

Now he's gone even farther and release a full length album for free, in its entirety. The Slip is available now. And you are encouraged to

share it with your friends,
post it on your blog,
play it on your podcast,
give it to strangers,
etc.

The music industry has been reeling lately because of artists like t.reznor. People who genuinely appreciate their fans and want to give them satisfaction without eating into their pocketbook and their privacy. Who are willing to buck the huge marketing machine that the record labels have to offer. It can be a big risk, but the simple cheap distribution of the internet makes it a much more viable delivery system.
Perhaps moves like this from big bands will start to break down the old busted model that the record companies have been clinging to for way too long now.

Oh and the album rocks. Thanks Trent. For making good music, and making it available in ways few are willing to do now.