Series, Subscriptions, Etc.

Today, I read about Madlib releasing a series of beat/mix LPs this year. One every month or two depending on the format it seems. In any case, it reminded of Karl Blau's Kelp subscription series where he records every few months and sends out the release to all his current subscribers. Now granted Madlib's project isn't a subscription project per se but it nevertheless rekindled a little entrepreneurial impulse in the backwaters of my mind (perhaps first prompted by the McSweeney's subscription packages...).

Over the past few years, I've begun thinking that a subscription series would really be the best way of establishing a new label/artist these days. I mean, it would allow a more resilient community to develop around whatever's being produced whether its music or art. 7" series do this to a certain extent sure, but I wonder why artists are still so caught up on having (supposedly) really solid but sporadic releases. Why not establish subscription series so that they have an immediate communal and financial incentive to continually produce their work for a interested and responsive audience?

Ok, my guesses for why not: logistics, laziness/busy-ness, and maybe some misled fear of audience mistrust.

So here's my call out to Austin (and Athens too): subscription series, think about! whatever it is you make.