Thom Yorke’s new solo album is being sold and distributed not through Apple’s iTunes, Amazon or Spotify streams, but via the new BitTorrent bundles, direct from the artist to the listeners. Unlike traditional methods of buying and downloading music, BitTorrent bundles work through a different system shared between users in much the same way as pirated music, with the crucial difference being that users pay for it.
What is BitTorrent?
BitTorrent became notorious for the illegal sharing of pirated music, movies and TV shows during the early noughties, but is actually a piece of technology that allows for more efficient distribution of files across the internet. The software system allows users to share files between computers on a peer-to-peer basis, rather than downloading direct from one server owned and operated by a company, which leads to faster downloads and a significantly reduced cost for the file distributor, in this case Thom Yorke.
How does it work?
Each of the files are broken down into small chunks and sent across the internet between the computers using the BitTorrent software. The small chunks are downloaded to a user’s computer from anyone on the network that is also sharing the files. Downloading from multiple users at the same time speeds up the download considerably. Once all the small chunks are downloaded, the software stitches the file together into the completed file.
How do ‘bundles’ work?
Unlike most files shared over BitTorrent via sites like the Pirate Bay or other illegal file sharing sites, “bundles” are links to the files that can be controlled and sold to users legally. Until now, all BitTorrent bundles were a collection of free files from artists with the option to sign up with a mailing list to get access to more. Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes marks the first paid-for album to be distributed via BitTorrent bundles.
How do I get the album?
Listeners will need a computer, but can buy the album via the BitTorrent site. After entering PayPal or credit card details the user is given a Torrent file. To then download the album, they need to use a BitTorrent client – a piece of software that connects to the BitTorrent network and downloads and shares the chunks of files before building the finished album. The BitTorrent software is free to download and use. With it installed on a computer opening the album’s bittorrent file will start the download of the album.
How do I listen to it?
Once the album has been downloaded it is no different from any other MP3 file bought from Amazon, Apple or any other music service. The files can be added to iTunes or any other music player to play. To play them on a smartphone they will need to be transferred to the smartphone either manually using a cable, or via a cloud music service like Google Play Music or iTunes Match.
Why is BitTorrent better than iTunes, Amazon or Spotify?
The benefits for artists or publishers are clear. Distributing music or any other file is much cheaper via BitTorrent. They save on the server costs needed for direct downloads, but it also allows them to sell albums directly to the public without involving a third-party like Apple or Amazon or even a record label.
For listeners the advantages are less clear. It is possible to do on a smartphone or tablet, but most will need a computer. The files won’t automatically be available on all their devices via a cloud service like iTunes Match or Google Play Music and the process of actually downloading the files could take longer.
But the savings that the artist makes should hopefully be passed onto the consumer – in this case Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes costs $6, much less than most new albums. Users can also download the music without having to sign up for a service or give information to the likes of Apple, Amazon or Spotify.
Have any other artists used BitTorrent bundles?
BitTorrent bundles reached 100m legal downloads and streams in June this year, with Madonna, Public Enemy, Moby, De La Soul and others using the service to reach fans.
Some, like Madonna, haven’t used the technology to share music but rather other content including a documentary film called Secretprojectrevolution. Moby gave away three songs and audio “stems” from his latest album, so fans could create their own remixes, as did Public Enemy. De La Soul gave away a digital mixtape and documentary film about pioneering hip-hop producer J Dilla, while Cut/Copy shared a music video along with the 3D printing files for making the video’s characters.
Is BitTorrent the future of music downloads?
BitTorrent would like to think so, but Thom Yorke is the first artist to seriously try and sell music through BitTorrent. Seeing how many people can get to grips with the technology and download the album will be a good test to see if BitTorrent bundles can work for the mainstream music audience and not just the tech savvy or those used to BitTorrent from other activities.
Apple, Amazon and Spotify won’t be quaking in their boots just yet, but the technology does show promise in saving costs for artists. A direct connection to fans cuts out the middle man and funnels more of the money back to the artists, but that might only be viable for established acts who have already gained recognition, like Thom Yorke.
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• BitTorrent bundles reach 100m (legal) downloads and streams
