I’m not too sure if having them exclusive is the best way to go. Those you just clamor for the songs would sign up for an account for one month every so often to grab what exclusive ‘packs’ they’ve missed.

I think just having 6-month ‘stash’ packs released like albums but being online-download only from the website would be perfect. That way you’d have multiple angles fans can go down. The normals: buy albums at performance/website/itunes, The dedicated: albums + website visits to get the 6-month packs, and The Hardcore: Subscribe year round to get each song as it comes out.

I understand how you’re trying to walk a tight-rope between making the packs full out ‘pack’ albums and potentially making members mad and locking the packs down too far and forcing people to subscribe to the monthly service (angry fans over having to be a monthly subscriber and then having to pay to get the older stuff if they missed one song at one point).

Another two cents – perhaps you could have the albums named like Ubuntu releases! (10.01 – the train, 10.06 – twitterific) Sorry, had to throw in another geeky reference.

don’t hesitate to sell “packs” of songs too.

having the lives & other events on the website would be a good idea too, with maybe a two month limit for members, only the last one for new members and constant access for vips?

Frankly, I’ll get behind whatever method you feel is fair. Like Zachary, I didn’t sign up to get “exclusive music.” I signed up to support you and your music in the most effective way that I can. I don’t feel that the song need to be “exclusive to subscribers” for any great length of time. If you can get additional support, financial or otherwise, by selling your songs, by all means do it!

(That and I’d like like to buy “Night Train” sooner rather than later…I’m selfish like that.)

I think it would be a service to your fans and to yourself to drop such extensive periods of exclusivity as a business model, and even copyright in general. People who want to pay you would keep doing so, people who don’t want to spend money will hear your music and eventually be convinced to do so (on T-shirts or concert tickets if not albums), and the increased exposure from having so many people listening to and sharing your music will make you much more likely to get a sold-out show at a concert hall or a gigantic corporation licensing your music.