Cracker: Get off This, Virgin

I have to admit that I don’t pay attention to Tuesday’s new release schedule with the fervor and passion that I used to in high school and college. Perhaps, I’m getting older, or spending to much time in the iTunes, the iTunes store, or on Pandora. But, I saw this about Cracker on Seth Godin’s blog and thought I’d share. Cracker, who had a bit of a falling out with Virgin Records pulled a pretty funny stunt. Virgin, working to get more dollars out of the Cracker catalog, releases greatest hits album. Well, Cracker, on their new/own label, returns the favor by releasing Greatest Hits: Redux on the same day. The redux version has the same track listing. The twist? Redux has re-recorded versions of each song. Which one do think fans would purchase? It’s almost as entertaining as the Wilco saga with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Coincidently, Wilco and Cracker are two of my favorite bands and the way in which they've conducted themselves in the face of the record companies only strengthens my emotional connection to these bands. Oh, and I did by a copy of Redux on iTunes?

The marketing take-aways:
1. Don’t be jerks
2. Understand the power of community

(cross-posted @ Sanctioning Agent)