In what is likely a first for an independent record label the size of Equal Vision, the debut full-length from California’s THIS TIME NEXT YEAR is available for download under as “pay what you want” offering via Bandcamp. Road Maps & Heart Attacks can be purchased as 320kb MP3s for any price between “0.00 and $1,000,000.” The release is also available on the site for streaming too.  Earlier today I caught up with the band’s A&R person at EVR, Dan Sandshaw and asked him a few questions about the announcement:

Pastepunk: With Road Maps & Heart Attacks being offered as a “pay your own price,” including free, through Bandcamp, Equal Vision has now become one of the largest independent record labels to experiment with this kind of sales offering – why now? Why with Road Maps…?

Dan: Our main goal is to get people to listen to our bands. There is no growth without listeners. The current state of the physical CD retail business has left us with few options to develop our artists. The TTNY record is fantastic and people need to hear it. We want as many people to hear it as possible, even if it’s for free.

Pastepunk: Who approached the idea first – the label? The band? Was there resistance at first?

Dan: We came up with it on the label side and the band completely embraced the idea.

Pastepunk: Road Maps… is currently available for sale on iTunes for $9.99 and is in retail stores as well, which certainly are not giving away the full-length for free. Are you concerned about any backlash from your retail partners?

Dan: No, because people will still buy the iTunes and physical versions. In theory, their sales should increase as word of mouth spreads.

Pastepunk: What if no one pays for the download, or just a handful of dollars come in – what’s next?

Dan: We will keep working to develop the band with as many new ideas as possible. I’m happy that at least we tried a new approach to get new listeners.

- I think it’s a terrific release from a very young band. Definitely check it out and maybe float a few bucks the band’s way too. Also, I think EVR should do this with all of its deep catalog releases. Break out the long out of print gems, give them a steady streaming home, and let the market determine prices.