> Normally, the launch of a new record label wouldn’t be the kind of thing we’d cover at The Next Web,

I can see that. This is like a music blog covering the release of a NoSQL database. They just don't have a clue.

There have been netlabels with free music downloads on the net since before mp3s were popular. The days that these only published amateur music of mediocre quality are long past. Many labels have had mixed free/non-free downloads for years, too (i.e. some releases are free, some aren't).

ps. if I upload some mp3s to a wordpress blog, do I get to feature on thenextweb too?

This feels like a publicity stunt. DigSin is single-oriented (that's even what the name means!), and it's far from unusual for labels to release a free single to promote the album. Meanwhile, plenty of independent artists on sites like Bandcamp and labels like Quote Unquote Records release all their music for free w/voluntary donations.

The producer of this music is a risk taker. Maybe if his stand is, if he can't beat the piracy, then he will go on a trend. He allowed people to download the music not necessarily for the money but also for the study purposes. Maybe if he is able to establish what age listens to certain music genre, then he will target to produce more music of that kind because he knows many people will listen to it.

I just hope that he will gain more money through the advertisements so that his effort will be reciprocated.

Ugh, I feel bad for them. That is the wrong way to try to drum up interest in music. It is already free. What they need to provide is something else that hasn't already been done. Like support online communities for bands that could write the bands' lyrics and music, if those user had a subscription.

Sounds like a spin on the Spotify/Grooveshark model, who give the music away (maybe with some ads in between) and sell the geodemographic information of who's listening back to the music labels. The difference is this guy IS the label.

I actually kind of don't get it, MegaUpload made some pretty good money from showing ads, didn't it? This guy says he doesn't expect to make much from the ads. As long as he has songs people actually want...

I don't much care if it is free, I just want to know if it is any good?