Wu-Tang Clan will only sell a single copy of their new album

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Wu-Tang Clan will only sell a single copy of their new album

 

As music sales have dwindled over the years, artists have increasingly turned to making special editions of their albums to entice hardcore fans to spending more hard-earned cash ? but there's never been an album quite like what Wu-Tang Clan is cooking up. In addition to releasing a 20th anniversary album this summer called A Better Tomorrow, the hip-hop collective also recorded a double album in secret over the last two years ? and is only releasing one single copy of it.

 

As reported by Forbes, Once Upon A Time In Shaolin will be encased in a silver and nickel box crafted by British-Moroccan artist Yahya and will probably sell for millions of dollars. However, before it is sold, the one-of-a-kind album will tour the world as many other famous pieces of art do, with stops at museums, galleries, and potentially music festivals. Fans will be charged a cost to attend a "listening event," where they'll get a chance to hear the album on headphones after being carefully screened for recording materials.

 

"We're about to put out a piece of art like nobody else has done in the history of [modern] music," says  Wu-Tang Clan member Robert "RZA" Diggs. "We're making a single-sale collector's item. This is like somebody having the scepter of an Egyptian king."

 

One that exhibition tour is complete, Wu-Tang Clan will sell the album for an unspecified price in the millions of dollars ? from there, its owner will be free to do what it wants with it. While it's too early to say who will shell out the cash for this unique item, Forbes speculates that brands may be interested in the cachet of having this exclusive album; another option may include a wealthy collector purchasing it and either liberating the audio for the masses or keeping the songs for themselves.

 

"The idea that music is art has been something we advocated for years," says RZA. "And yet its doesn't receive the same treatment as art in the sense of the value of what it is, especially nowadays when it's been devalued and diminished to almost the point that it has to be given away for free." Whether or not Wu-Tang Clan is able to find enough people who want to go experience their album in a museum to make an impact remains to be seen ? as does the viability of a multi-million dollar unique pressing of that album, but the group is OK with its plan going awry. "It might totally flop, and we might be completely ridiculed," says co-producer Tarik "Cilvaringz" Azzougarh "But the essence and core of our ideas is to inspire creation and originality and debate, and save the music album from dying."

 

Source: The Verge

[spacer]

I think it's bold of them to assume their god-awful music is worthy of being in a museum. In fact, it's kind of insulting that it will share floor space with truly deserving works of art.

[Astra.Xtreme]

It's going to be hilarious if/when it leaks online.

[Lord Method Man]

Wu-Tang Clan will only sell a single copy of their new album

 

 

Seems like a reasonable prediction to me given how awful their "music" is.

[McKay]

Imagine the fallback if some Millionaire bought their album, and then shared it online.

 

I think it'll be leaked though, maybe from the CD burning factory etc. Unless it's going to be burned in the recording studio. 

[firey]

any bets as to how long until it is up on TPB.. not that I'd download it anyways.

[xplatinum]

Seems like a reasonable prediction to me given how awful their "music" is.

I hope your username isn't related to the rapper because he is/was part of the Wu-Tang Clan.

 

I don't like all of their songs but this oldie is good.

 

[sanctified Veteran]

I think it's bold of them to assume their god-awful music is worthy of being in a museum. In fact, it's kind of insulting that it will share floor space with truly deserving works of art.

 

All kinds of art's manifestation is, indeed, art. So get off your throne and take off the crown Charles Saatchi. You're no one to say what is a 'truly' deserving work of art, if that thing even exists.

[Lord Method Man]

I hope your username isn't related to the rapper because he is/was part of the Wu-Tang Clan.

 

 

 

My username originated from a character I played to grief people in Ultima Online back in the 90s.

[He's Dead Jim]

I love Wu Tang, best hip hop since NWA, I hope their gawdaful music art one of a kind is up on TPB asap.... ;)

[timster]

"We're making a single-sale collector's item. This is like somebody having the scepter of an Egyptian king."

 

the scepter of an Egyptian king has actual historical value and significance. A Wu-Tang album has no historical value or significance.

[Praetor]

the scepter of an Egyptian king has actual historical value and significance. A Wu-Tang album has no historical value or significance.

 

not now, but in 2000 years people would see that in a museum, fossilized and then say: oh wow folks used to listen to beat up, dry lyrics and bad rhythm and PAY for it?

[sanctified Veteran]

the scepter of an Egyptian king has actual historical value and significance. A Wu-Tang album has no historical value or significance.

 

Everything has historical value and significance. Read semiotics and post structuralism. But if you're going to be truly cynical, then at least do it right and say 'nothing has actual historical value and meaning'.

 

Both stances are right, and also, they are actual stances. No political-correct middle-class 'educated' opinionated rhetorics.

[compl3x]

It's a better idea than another musician releasing another ######in' fragrance.

[theyarecomingforyou]

Everything has historical value and significance.

Even Klaus Wunderlich playing the Star Wars theme?

 

[Bertch]

It's going to be hilarious if/when it leaks online.

 

I think it would be funny if someone created a KickStarter to buy it for the sole purpose of putting it up online.

[zhangm Supervisor]

I think it would be funny if someone created a KickStarter to buy it for the sole purpose of putting it up online.

 

If someone bought it, the only people laughing would be the band, on their way to the bank.

 

 

 

One [sic] that exhibition tour is complete, Wu-Tang Clan will sell the album for an unspecified price in the millions of dollars ? from there, its owner will be free to do what it wants with it.

[srbeen]

It sounds like they are selling the rights to it free and clear, not licensing a copy of it. So the buyer could license it to people to listen to, AKA resell it. WuTang clan then also wouldn't be able to sell it, but what about preforming it again? I can't imagine its outstanding work, but time reveals all.

[sanctified Veteran]

Even Klaus Wunderlich playing the Star Wars theme?

 

 

Yes.