The shape of things to come? This is one solution… Absolutely genius.
As the product’s official website indicates, the legendary rap team’s stealthy new record is called The Wu – Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. There’ll only be one copy of the album… like, ever. It’ll be grandly “presented in a hand carved nickel-silver box designed by the British Moroccan artist Yahya,” and yes, it looks as fancy as it sounds. Before that one copy is sold, though, civilians can listen to the album when it embarks on an ambitious tour of museums, galleries, festivals, and other such happenings around the world. Then after that, the item will go up for sale, with an expected price range somewhere in the multi-millions.
READ THE FULL STORY AT ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY:
http://music-mix.ew.com/2014/03/27/wu-tang-clan-shaolin-single-album/
The Trichordist 
Brilliant idea. I remember seeing the announcement when it hit, and the first thing I thought was it’s a great way to cut out the middleman in a crowdfunding scenario. Kickstarter? Indiegogo? no need if you’re already famous. Just outlandish packaging. You would have to put the initial bucks in yourself, but some rich person out there looking for the one thing nobody else would have…this would be it.
But maybe there’s a different story here. Bands sell the rights to their latest album to the highest bidder, like an auction. Once that person or company buys the rights and recordings they can decide if they want to “share” it by making it commercially available. Musicians won’t stop making music, but they may stop “sharing” it.
https://thetrichordist.com/2013/09/04/pirates-wont-stop-us-from-creating-theyll-stop-us-from-sharing/
Let silicon valley put their money where their mouth is, let’s see Google, Pandora or Spotify buy this album.
Only if you are a big enough band can you even think about doing this. Someone has to be willing to pay the price.