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Pearl Jam Downloads Live Jams |
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Written by KZYR
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Wednesday, 11 June 2008 |
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Pearl Jam has struck a deal with Verizon Wireless' V Cast service to
sell select tracks from the authorized live bootlegs that will be
available in conjunction with the band's upcoming summer tour.
The trek begins tomorrow (June 11) in West Palm Beach, Fla.
According to Billboard magazine.
This extension of Pearl Jam's long-running live
bootleg program will result in three tracks from each show (excluding
Bonnaroo) immediately being available via V Cast and PearlJamConcerts.com: one as a free mobile download, and two others for purchase.
All V Cast tracks will be "dual downloads," meaning
once purchased, they are sent to both the mobile phone and the user's
computer. They will feature Verizon's existing DRM system, and will
also be sold as ringtones and ringbacks.
The Verizon deal also includes mobile tickets. Any fan
downloading any type of Pearl Jam content from V Cast -- going back to
the beginning of the year -- is eligible to win seats to an upcoming
show. Winning fans will receive their ticket directly to their phone,
in the form of a barcode that can be scanned at the venue's entrance.
In addition, DRM-free digital tour bootlegs will be
sold in FLAC format. A less expensive MP3 option will also be
available, with all digital versions hitting PearlJam.com exclusively two weeks following each show.
And while in the past Pearl Jam has utilized
a proprietary download tool to help fans manage acquisition of their
bootlegs, "We aren't using a download manager this time around," Pearl
Jam fan club manager Tim Bierman tells Billboard.com. "Customers will
download through their individual browsers. Those needing help with
larger files/slower connections will be advised to use a free download
manager available on the Web."
The bootleg series, which began on CD in 2000 but went
digital-only for Pearl Jam's 2006 tour, will once again have a physical
component this summer. CDs will be manufactured on demand and will be
mailed within three weeks of the show. "The packaging will be
consistent with previous bootleg endeavors," Bierman says.
The Pearl Jam camp says more than 3.5 million copies of the live bootlegs have been sold since the program's inception.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 12 June 2008 )
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