Why Give Music Away?

In these days of rampant music piracy, one could argue that musicians should be scrambling to get people to buy their music. Right? Not exactly.

Take Greensky Bluegrass, for example. Two months prior to the Oct. 4 release of Handguns, the band’s fourth studio recording, they released a free, five-song EP of selections from the album.

“We just wanted to get the music out to people as soon as possible,” said Anders Beck, the band’s dobro player. “We had this release date that was far away, and we wanted to get the music out there.”

So, the band compiled its five favorite tunes for the EP, which was downloaded 1,000 times within a couple of days of its release. Beck said fans are already singing along to the songs at live shows. Rather than go through a publicity company, where the band was afraid it might be a small fish in a big sea, the band’s strong, grassroots fan base is pushing for them.

“The goal is to get many, many more fans and many more people to hear this record, and therefore, be into the band and come the live shows,” Beck said, noting that Greensky Bluegrass’ show is one to be reckoned with.

The EP was meant for people who might not have bought the album, and for the band’s ‘rabid fans’ to spread around to their friends.

“We’re pretty confident that there’s something in there for most people to grasp onto,” Beck said.

There was some hesitation on the part of the band, which worried that maybe fewer people would buy the album, or it would devalue the music in some way, but those worries were passed over by how proud the band is of its new work. With the power of the Internet allowing anybody to get their music out there, Beck said it gives the music a chance to speak for itself.

Handguns is the first album Greensky Bluegrass self-produced. The album was recorded using older, analog methods, and the band experimented with some effects on their instruments and different microphones. Beck attributes these elements, as well as the songs the band chose to record, as the reason the band wanted people to hear the music.

“For artists, it’s confusing. We don’t know what the right thing to do is. We’re trying to figure it out,” Beck said. “The idea of releasing free music…is an experiment for fans in the digital age of music.”

Greensky Bluegrass, which passed through Baltimore earlier this month, will spend the rest of the year on the road, spreading their music in the most honest way they know, by playing live.

“That’s pretty much been and always will be the agenda,” Beck said. “And if we can stop off to make some cool records in the studio, that’s awesome.”