It’s called Sound Supply, and it it’s like groupon-style flash sale of bundles of digital albums. Basically, you have 10 days to buy 10 handpicked album in digital format for $15. The first batch is a triumph of indie pop bonanza, featuring one of my favorite record of 2010: “Davvy” by Coconut Records (worth $15 by itself, for sure!).
A couple of major labels tried the bundle sale model for physical albums by “old goldies” like Aerosmith, but the experiment was a failure. I’m looking forward if the curation part here will make a difference (I don’t think the bundle per se makes you purchase something), although 10 albums look too much to me. Few people will listen to all of them in 10 days, reducing the need to purchase the next batch. Repeat customers will be essential for Sound Supply, so I hope they’ll be smart enough to retarget their offer according to what happens in the pilot sale.
I’d love to learn how the revenues are distributed to artist and labels, and who’s behind the venture. Definitely a on my watch list.