Music group Insane Clown Posse and Grokster, a peer-to-peer file-sharing program (P2P), yesterday began an international merchandise giveaway in tandem with yesterday's release of the group's CD “The Wraith: Shangri-La.”
The two sides said this agreement marks the first time a recording artist and a major P2P network have run a joint promotion “beyond offering a free MP3.”
The promotion ends Nov. 26. ICP fans can go to their Grokster start page and register for ICP collectibles including “Wraith” leather jackets, novelty stand-ups, autographed posters, baseball caps, T-shirts and assorted “Wraith” items. Fans are invited to download a free MP3 single of the band's new song on the Grokster start page.
Grokster will prominently post messages to users to “Support the Artist. Buy the Record!”
The promotion aims not only to raise awareness of the album but to provide another touch point from which the album can be bought.
“This promotion also provides fans and potential album consumers with a direct link to purchase the album online,” said Trevor Lane, president of Net Music Promotions, Los Angeles, the online marketing company that organized the promotion. “Additional elements of this promotion include a Net Music Promotions e-card that fans can send to all of their friends letting them know about the release.”
