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BitTorrent Now is an open, ad-supported music and video platform
Chances are, most people still think of BitTorrent as a tool to pirate the latest Game of Thrones episode -- but for several years now, the company has been using its peer-to-peer internet technology as a platform for independent musicians, filmmakers and other artists to distribute their work. The resulting BitTorrent Bundle network has played host to projects from Madonna, comedian David Cross and Radiohead's Thom Yorke as well as a host of smaller, lesser-known people. Since debuting in 2013, the ways artists can choose to be compensated for their work has evolved too. Originally, BitTorrent Bundle content was free (after you signed up with your email address), and then Thom Yorke's album introduced the "paygate," which let artists offer a preview and put the rest of their work being a paywall. Today, BitTorrent is introducing a new way for artists to get paid: BitTorrent Now is a new, ad-supported service that'll let users stream any participating artist's content to iOS, Android and the new Apple TV. The Android app launches today, with the iOS and Apple TV apps to follow soon.
BitTorrent now lets any artist offer paid bundles
BitTorrent's experiments with paid music and video bundles have clearly seen some early success -- and accordingly, it's opening up the floodgates. The peer-to-peer service now lets any artist apply to distribute content through paywall-based downloads, whether they're releasing music, apps or movies. As before, the allure is the sheer flexibility that artists get in deciding not just what you pay for, but when you pay for it. A musician might let the first 500 downloaders listen to an album for free, for instance, but can ask latecomers to pay for some or all of the songs. They also get 90 percent of the revenue instead of the 70 percent they get from most online music services, so there's a chance they'll take home more money if they produce a hit.
Thom Yorke's BitTorrent release had over a million downloads in six days
So, how did Thom Yorke's latest music-distribution venture go? Pretty well, it seems. The Radiohead-frontman's second solo album, Tomorrow's Modern Boxes, achieved over a million downloads in six days via BitTorrent Bundle, according to the peer-to-peer network's blog. Exactly how the numbers break down is a bit nebulous, though. BitTorrent says that those million downloads also include the freebie single and video as well as the $6 album, noting to Consequence of Sound that precise sales numbers were being withheld at Yorke's request. Still, it's a little exciting to see that Bundles could be a viable way for musicians to earn a living -- especially when streaming services are well-known for less-than-favorable pay-outs and business practices. Let's just hope this success isn't limited to acts with Yorke's inherent star-power. After all, even Trent Reznor went back to a traditional record label after toying with total independence. [Image credit: Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP]
Thom Yorke's new album is only available online as a BitTorrent Bundle
Thom Yorke has a history of going against the grain with his online music sales. His band Radiohead first released In Rainbows as a pay-what-you-want download, and he pulled his solo tunes from Spotify to make a stand on royalty rates. It shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that he's once again bucking trends by launching his latest album (Tomorrow's Modern Boxes) as the first ever pay-gated BitTorrent Bundle. You can listen to its first song, "A Brain in A Bottle," for free; forking over $6 will unlock the remaining seven tracks. And for now, it's only available online through BitTorrent's peer-to-peer technology. You can buy vinyl if you'd like a hard copy, but you won't find it on regular download or streaming services.
BitTorrent's revamped Android apps let you download just the files you want
If your Android smartphone regularly doubles as a peer-to-peer download machine, you'll want to check out BitTorrent's newly overhauled Torrent App and its µTorrent counterpart. Both apps have far sleeker interfaces that offer more control over transfers; you can now choose to grab only the files you want from a torrent, and you can specify where those files will go on your device. It's also easier for newcomers to get started. Prefer to do all your downloading from a PC? You're still getting a treat today. There's new µTorrent desktop software (a BitTorrent equivalent is due next week) that integrates BitTorrent Bundles, letting you easily unlock music and other content from within the app. You'll find all of the updated clients through the source links.
Public Enemy backs BitTorrent, releases new single in a Bundle, announces remix contest for fans
BitTorrent announced its new file format, the Bundle, just over a month ago, giving artists new tools to control content distributed P2P. Now, Public Enemy is one of the first to take advantage of those features by releasing its latest single as a Bundle and announcing a BitTorrent-based remix contest. Downloading the torrent gets you a copy of "Get Up Stand Up," and giving Chuck D and his mates your email address unlocks the Bundle -- thereby netting you the song's music video, outtakes and 37 remix-able multitracks. That last bit is key, as Public Enemy's encouraging folks to submit remixes of the song to the group using BitTorrent SoShare. From those submissions, Public Enemy will pick the best remix, officially release it, and give the winner recording gear and a smattering of Public Enemy swag. Sound good? You bring the DJ skills, and we've got you covered with the source tracks and more info below.