BUNDLING UP FOR A TORONTO WINTER

Visitors to the iTunes Store hoping to cherry-pick choice cuts from Drake’s new Views are going to have to be patient—the album is bundled and will remain so for the first week. It’s the latest wrinkle in the strategic use of windowing. In the past, bundling has been employed to increase sales, but in this case the move is as much an artistic decision as a retail strategy in that it locks together the album as Drake intended it to be experienced.

Like Beyoncé’s Lemonade—which is not bundled but includes the HBO special—the $13.99 Views has been sequenced to form a coherent narrative, as Drake tells his story against the backdrop of Toronto's seasons, complete with atmospheric sound fx. It’s not a collection of “singles,” although there are multiple potential hits. Hence the bundle.

We’re in the midst of a period in which the superstar elite has seized the leverage and is making use of it.

HITS LIST BLASTS OFF
Space is the place for Tay. (4/30a)
TAY RACKS UP STATS, OBLITERATES RECORDS
What did you expect? (4/30a)
STAGECOACH: THE FINAL DESERT EXCURSION
Our weary travelers reflect on their adventure. (4/30a)
BILLIE'S BACK WITH BIG WORLD TOUR
Promises to be a Hard ticket to score. (4/30a)
HIPGNOSIS BOARD APPROVES UPPED BLACKSTONE BID
But it ain't over till it's over. (4/29a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
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