As long as he's going to release a traditional CD of this and not expect fans like me to keep buying the admittedly beautiful Ghosts style packages, I think he's going to be successful on his own. But if he keeps putting out new music with super-expensive ultra-elaborate packages with each release, fans are going to start questioning what the ultimate motive is. Obviously, I think we all realize that the musicians need to get paid, but things like the two deluxe issues of Ghosts I-IV are best left to be one-offs in his catalog and not the start of a trend. I can afford something like that once in a great while, and I'm happy to have beautiful things like that - once in a while. That said, I'm excited to see what May 5 brings - "Discipline" is a very strong, catchy track. Nothing groundbreaking, but there's a point in most artist's career when that ceases to be the point of their existence.

Very true, Tom - but for Ghosts, he did release a traditional CD (cheap,) download (also cheap,) with the deluxe edition basically released as the cool collectors piece for the NIN fiend that has to have everything. Kind of the Radiohead model where they had the multiple cheaper option, and then an expensive collector's option.

As long as they a - give us that cheaper option, and b - continue to put a traditional CD in stores, I'm down with whatever the artists want to put out additionally as far as a deluxe edition. I may choose not to buy it, but for those that want it, good for them. It's kind of similar to the argument about tour packages w/ meet and greets, etc. I might not want to pay for it, but for those that do want to pay for the experience, great.

And from the artist's potential, it's potential money they are crazy to pass up. I think the artist can maintain ultimate cred by keeping their merch/releases from hitting the level of what KISS does. That's the official point for me that any self-respecting fan should question what they're supporting.

So until we see the official NIN casket, I think we're cool.

To one of your original points, there is the occasional release that is only released digitally, not in stores. That's what I dread. Even though I love my Ipod, I'm still addicted to having the physical product as well for liner notes, etc.

I guess what I'm saying is that the deluxe thing stands out as something special now, but if $80 and $300 releases pop up several times a year from one artist, fans might start to feel that they're not really getting anything special anymore, whereas, say, Ghosts V-? in 2009 in another $80/$300 package deal might ring as a very special thing.

There is that level of fan that feels that they have to have everything, and once they start to feel pick-pocketed by their favorite artists, things are bad. I can't see Trent going this route - he's been very, very smart so far as he sets out into this new marketing realm, and I think he realizes that making Ghosts something special sets it apart and makes it an event - "when is the next installment coming?" "what's the next package going to look like?" etc. If he keeps turning out ultra-deluxe editions, he waters down the power of what he just pulled off - less and less people will buy them each time. But I would bet that he will garner about the same sales of each version of Ghosts I-IV when the next installment does come out if he does it right.

(This is all coming from someone who did buy the $80 package, by the way! I wouldn't consider myself an uber-fan by any means, just one that saw something beautiful and amazing and had to have it. Radiohead's In Rainbows DiscBox did not appeal to me in anyway, on the other hand. I thought it was a bit of a rip off.)

I will be very sad if/when it comes to simply digital releases. I think that's pretty obvious if I'm willing to fork over $80 for a Nine Inch Nails album I could have gotten for free. :-)

Ha - I hear you loud and clear.

There's an additional level for me, using Dream Theater as an example. They put out a lot of really cool "official bootlegs" and various stuff, at a reasonable price.

The same stuff that other bands might charge 80 bucks for, for a deluxe edition - Dream Theater puts the same mega content on, with nice packaging, and charges 25 bucks. Gotta love Mike Portnoy and his complete understanding of being a fan (which I think Trent has as well.) Admittedly, when it comes to what Trent is doing, the packaging is a lot of the 80 dollar charge...I'm really referencing some bands that charge an arm and a leg for overall bonus content.

At what point do you have too much Dream Theater? I'm starting to reach that point. There's an element of too much of a good thing like you reference above...yet it's priced right...and for the uber-fan that wants the insane volume of releases...Dream Theater certainly take care of that.

So to your point about watering down the demand, I think in a way, Mike Portnoy has watered down my desire for the official bootleg stuff to a point. I was buying all of the releases as they came out...and finally got a bit selective with the last round, and picked up the DVD that I really wanted, and elected to pick up the rest of the new releases later.

I'll be in mourning when the loss of physical product comes around. People will think I lost a favorite pet;-)

Great stuff - thanks for the dialogue.

"But if he keeps putting out new music with super-expensive ultra-elaborate packages with each release, fans are going to start questioning what the ultimate motive is."

The motive is to find a way to make online distribution of music feasible by essentially letting ultra fans, who shell out the big $ on collectibles, subsidize other fans who download free or only pay the $5.

As for me, I got the $10 option for Ghosts and should get my cd in a couple weeks(already have the FLAC version).

i feel so violated that in the past i have forked out $220 (new zealand currency) for the 2 "deluxe editions" of and all that could have been + 10th anniversary downward spiral SACD 2 disc set and now knowing that the dirty record label skimmed of most of that! so i am all for TR charging what the fuck he wants for some his art! thanks trent..