The production of special edition forms of media and art are not uncommon today; from special edition video game consoles to collectible magazine covers, various groups attempt to differentiate their products to promote the idea of a unique and rare item. The hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan is set on selling only a single copy of their special album Once Upon A Time In Shaolin with the central notion that music is a form of art.
This album, not the same one as their 20th anniversary album, will tour the world from art galleries to music events just like famous pieces of art and rare collectibles move from gallery to gallery. Fans, without access to their electronic devices, will be able to attend parties where they can listen to the album in a safe and secure location.
Like art, a high value means a high price. The album, encased in a silver and nickel box, is expected to be sold in the millions of dollars range in which case the owner will be allowed to do whatever he or she wants to do with the music. Only time can tell if this album is a fantastic concept of original art in the form of music, or if it will be a bust for the music group. In any case this is an ingenuous marketing strategy.
Source: Forbes
