White Stripes album sold on limited edition USB drives

For fans of Jack and Meg, it's probably a long-standing dream of yours to purchase the Icky Thump album on limited edition thumb drives complete with cartoon renditions of the rockers, but even if it that understandably bizarre scenario never actually crossed your mind, you can still make it a reality. Apparently, the White Stripes are offering up their latest album on two fairly rare USB drives, each sporting 512MB of internal space, an artistic rendition of one of the band mates, and thirteen rockin' tracks in Apple Lossless format. Only 3,333 of each will be created, and while just one will run you a whopping $57.50, you may as well grab the duo for a discounted $99. Of course, we're still not entirely certain if these things are actually licensed by the band, but it's safe to assume that a seven nation army of fans will have these bought up before the legal teams can even get their case together.

[Via BoingBoing]

[GabrielDunn @ Jun 12th 2007 8:16PM]

Blah...cute might be worth keeping in the package, I mean who would want to listen to it, but as a collectible..you know. It might be nice to have.

[Jonhimslf @ Jun 12th 2007 8:24PM]

Is it cheaper to ship an album on a USB key or in the traditional CD Jewel Case? (Remembering that the CD liner notes would be digitized as PDFs on the USB key)

[Tony C @ Jun 13th 2007 9:01AM]

Considering that mass market audio CD production costs all of $0.25 these days, I'd have to say "no".

[Jean-Michel Decombe @ Jun 12th 2007 8:26PM]

USB stick? Please, Jack, say it ain't so...

[Vizion @ Jun 12th 2007 8:31PM]

These are Official releases engadget so they're clearly licensed by the White Stripes and their studio. It's selling at the Official Store.

[Artr @ Jun 12th 2007 8:36PM]

yeah these are from the official store... but i wouldn't get them... might as well just get the CD and make your own lossless files..

[CharlieX @ Jun 12th 2007 8:45PM]

You guys aren't getting it, it's a curio... something nutty fans would want. Of course it doesn't make sense to Joe Public.

[iRobot @ Jun 12th 2007 8:54PM]

1.) Very cool idea. Music/Video straight from the artist on a USB drive. Sold to me -- completely cutting out the RIAA. Brilliant! I would buy this in a second.

2.) However, $57.50??? Have you loss your mind? A 2GB Thumb Drive is going for $10 buck at Newegg. So, 512MB has can't be more then -- $2. A manufacture buying a bunch of blank USB drives from china is, like $1 a dozen.

So they have the nerve to charge $57.50 for 1, and $99 bucks for 2. Whatever, not if they were encrusted with gold. I don't care if they're selling the entire rendition of the Beatles -- That is TOO much money, and I've never even heard of "White Stripes".

Well.. this is a good idea, but the experiment should be tried again with a musical group that everybody knows and likes.

[boschee06 @ Jun 12th 2007 9:09PM]

I feel sorry for anyone that hasn't heard of The White Stripes. The American hype machine pushes all these horrible pop bands and doesn't give praise to truly great bands and musicians like the Stripes. Jack White is amazing. You owe it to yourself to check them out because they will rock your face off!

And iRobot, those drives are meant as collectors items for true fans, and you can count on them being sold out the second they go on sale. The people buying them won't care they're only 512mb.

[Chris @ Jun 13th 2007 11:35AM]

While I agree that the Stripes are a good band... they aren't exactly the 'rock your face off' variety.

[Paul @ Jul 25th 2007 2:45PM]

what? The White Stripes ARE the American Hype Machine. see, for example, past mtv music awards, weird USB drives, etc.

[Orpheus @ Jun 12th 2007 9:18PM]

boschee66: "those drives are meant as collectors items for true fans"

No they're not. They're meant for rich parents to buy for their kids, trying to be cool. True fans would just buy the cd, or the 12-inch, they'd see the gigs etc. They wouldn't buy tacky little caricatures of the band members.

[boschee06 @ Jun 12th 2007 9:32PM]

touche... i certainly wouldn't buy them, but a lot of fans will buy these so in 50 years when usb is long gone and the stripes music is classic rock, they can look back and say wow i can't believe i really wasted 57 bucks on this thing when i could've just bought the album for 10.

[austin @ Jun 13th 2007 6:16AM]

I disagree. Re: "True fans would just buy the cd, or the 12-inch." True fans would not just buy a CD or a record. If this is a band that one likes a lot, surely a true fan would jump at the fact that they can get ahold of a quirky piece of music ephemera. I personally do not like this band, but if a band I liked manufactured a collectable USB with some extra content at a reasonable price I would buy it. Just like I own every Family Guy DVD--I love the series so I buy them whenver they come out. It's different for everyone.

[substance12 @ Jun 12th 2007 9:37PM]

actually I think this is a great idea. I have this notion, unsubstantiated, that only fans are really buying anything. most of the people pirating are pirating stuff they wouldn't buy. I'd say drop the price to $20-30 and they'd sell like hot cakes. In fact, if every artist did this people/fans would have walls and walls of these little figurines. at least they're trying to be creative.

[Mike @ Jun 12th 2007 9:51PM]

Who are you music fans to say what true fans would do? I know your trying to sound like, the god of music, or something. I hate music snobs like you, who pretend to be "diffrent". Your just as bad, if not worse, of the people you put down. I hate music snobs.

[Scubasteve @ Jun 12th 2007 9:59PM]

So, is there any relevance to the 6,666 total??

[n3rrd @ Jun 12th 2007 10:36PM]

Jack has a thing for the number three. A bunch of other rare releases have been manufactured in similar numbers.

[Adoniteking @ Jun 12th 2007 10:06PM]

my kids like the white stripes so they automatically wanted one but as a parent i was like "HELL NO! tamagotchi or any other stuff that looks like it was made in japan...probably...but not something that looks like Michael jackson in george michael's pants".."CD albums are still in fashion"

[paul34 @ Jun 12th 2007 10:20PM]

danget! I was so trying to think of a seven nation army witty remark to make. Looks like the reference was already made.

[Chuckles McGee @ Jun 12th 2007 10:22PM]

Hah, well the price obviously does not perfectly reflect costs- it reflects demand. People will pay more for these things than a standard CD, nevermind how dinky 512 megs are.

[RijilV @ Jun 12th 2007 10:55PM]

its all about selling out indie style so everyone keeps on thinking you're hip and cool.

I mean, come on, just look at the facts here: they're limiting supply to generate a large margin and a ton of hype.

[Kyle @ Jun 12th 2007 11:28PM]

You're exactly right. It's called good business. Exploiting people where there is money to be made.

I don't agree with it, but I can't blame them for trying it.

[Grantium @ Jun 12th 2007 11:29PM]

Are you guys high? Follow the link -- its the band selling them.

Legal action? Learn from the Apple thing, this isn't even a high profile story.

[sslunch @ Jun 13th 2007 12:40AM]

COMPLETE mimobot WANNABE!

[Carbonize @ Jun 13th 2007 2:22AM]

The left one looks more like Michael Jackson dressed up as a Pearly King.

[aiko.adonia @ Jun 13th 2007 3:29AM]

Being a fan i think it's neat. Being sane I think that's way too much moolah to shell out for these things. I understand it takes money to make em but come on... that much money. I highly think not. I think it'd be interesting to see the profit margin on these suckers. Still i'm not against getting one as a gift... wink wink nudge nudge ^_^

[David Chills @ Jun 13th 2007 9:11AM]

I downloaded off torrents - 0 dollars
I put it on a flash drive - 10 dollars
I downloaded picture and printed it on fancy paper - 2 dollars

time taken - 20 minutes

done

[FIR3BRDRACR @ Jun 27th 2007 5:09AM]

@ David Chills

You are an idiot.
The reason good bands like the White Stripes dont get the coverage they deserve is no one supports them anymore.
You vote with your checkbook when it comes to music making the top 40, and by cheating the band out of their well deserved money, some other teenie-bopper pop band goes to the top from the 14-under crowd having the parent buy the crappy cds.
im not saying i havent torrented a cd before, but its only if i wasnt planning on buying it anyway
Support your Bands!!!

[hipster @ Jun 13th 2007 10:29AM]

You guys are dorks. I mean who wouldn't know that 3333 matches the number of limited edition Aluminiium CDs they sold last year. This is just like the 3" record players they sold at their concerts. I maen seriously.

Haha. J/K. This is the same thing. More kitsch stuff that indie hipsters can brag about.

[Andrew @ Jun 13th 2007 1:21PM]

I have no problem with the price, if they sell them - good on em'. Artists that look at ways of cutting out the RIAA and still can make money are top drawer in my books. As long as the file is DRM free, are there any restrictions to Apple Lossless?

[Devilmachine @ Jun 13th 2007 9:48PM]

I was actually about to purchase one when I saw that you have to be living in the US to order one.
:(