Tom DeLonge has told Billboard that Angels & Airwaves will release their next album, entitled Love, on Valentine’s Day. And what a lot of love for the fans it’ll be too – it’s being given away as a free download and DeLonge reckons he’s sunk around $500,000 of his own cash into it. Blink – 182’s singer/guitarist is hoping to recoup through corporate sponsorships, touring, merchandise sales, premium exclusive tracks and videos on the band’s Web site. They’ll also be flogging a deluxe version of Love with 30 minutes of exclusive bonus material.
DeLonge initially approached record label Geffen with the idea of releasing the album as a freebie, but was stymied as “there are certain costs they couldn’t throw under the rug,” he says. After negotiations stalled, Geffen agreed to allow the band to self-release Love.
“When you sign with a label early in your career, it’s because they have the advantage of investing in your brand,” DeLonge said, clucthing on to the masters and publishing rights for Love, which he now owns. “Now it’s changed, because the majority of the kids now get their records for free (and) the labels don’t have money to invest.”
Damn straight they do Tom – you’re king of the kids.
