Louis C.K. Releases New $5 Special Online
The last time Louis C.K. released an album it went pretty well. The comedian is continuing his grassroots distribution model for his latest album, “WORD: Live at Carnegie Hall,” which is available now on his website for $5.
C.K. decided to start releasing his albums on his own as a way to give his fans a direct route to buy his albums. Louis said that the reason albums tend to cost so much is because there are so many “middle men” that have to get paid. The end result is an expensive product that many people will decide to illegally download instead of buy.
So Louis C.K. cut out the middle man and produced and distributed the album himself.
The comedian writes on his website:
“Look, I don’t really get the whole “torrent” thing. I don’t know enough about it to judge either way. But I’d just like you to consider this: I made these files extremely easy to use against well-informed advice. I was told that it would be easier to torrent the way I made it, but I chose to do it this way anyway, because I want it to be easy for people to watch and enjoy this video in any way they want without “corporate” restrictions. Please bear in mind that I am not a company or a corporation. I’m just some guy. I paid for the production and posting of this video with my own money. I would like to be able to post more material to the fans in this way, which makes it cheaper for the buyer and more pleasant for me. So, please help me keep this being a good idea. I can’t stop you from torrenting; all I can do is politely ask you to pay your five little dollars, enjoy the show, and let other people find it in the same way.”
The last time Louis put one of his albums up online it really paid off. He made more than $1 million in the first few days (most of which he gave away) and more importantly, saw that many people were willing to pay $5 for an album instead of downloading it illegally.
Louis said that the new special features some old material, but says that none of it has never been released as one piece. Louis writes:
“This is material that I was performing two years ago (about) on a tour that was called “Word”. Some of this material was on my FX show “Louie” in pieces but the entire show in one piece was never released. This show was recorded at Carnegie Hall on November 4, 2010.”
