Two years ago Prince shook the music industry when he gave away free CDs to fans who purchased either the UK's Mail on Sunday newspaper or tickets to one of his shows. Picking up on that idea, American band No Doubt is doing something similar for those who buy top-tier tickets to one of the concerts in its summer tour.

Rather than just a single CD, however, No Doubt is giving away a free download of its entire digital audio catalogue, comprising more than 80 songs from the band's seven studio albums. Tickets for the tour, which kicks off May 2 in Atlantic City, went on sale earlier this month, and pricing varies with the venue. The free download offer applies only to top-ticket price levels, however—those priced higher than USD 42.50 before applicable ticketing-related fees. In addition to the band's past songs, the download will also include "Stand and Deliver," a brand-new song that will be performed for the first time in May.

There's no doubt the music industry is in transition, as it struggles to find a sustainable new model for the digital-music era. By zeroing in on premium-priced tickets, No Doubt takes Prince's model a notch higher and turns the music into a perk for top-paying fans. Free love is always good, but when it's reserved for your best customers, it can inspire brand love and come right back at you again! (Related: Travel company invites clients on planning trips — Hotel perks for Mercedes drivers — More luxury loos, now for members only — A layaway option for buying festival tickets.)

Website: www.nodoubt.com/news/default.aspx?nid=20646

Spotted by: Lieke Voermans

Although grabbing the set list from a favourite band's gig is like nabbing a trophy, not everyone can get their hands on that sweaty and smudged piece of paper. Which is why Setlist.fm was launched, a free wiki-site that allows users to upload and browse concert set lists.

The process is easy: users sign up, select an artist from the site's extensive database (or add in someone up-and-coming), input a venue, and then list the songs the artist played during that particular show. They're encouraged to add whatever they remember, relying on 'crowd memory' to fix errors and add missing songs. Once saved, a list is added to an archive of an artist's performances that also includes 'most played' statistics and links to live videos. Each user is given a personal page of the set lists they added or edited, as well as their comments and concert attendance statistics. Helping promote the site, a Setlist.fm widget is popular on music websites, and is also available for Facebook pages. Its pseudo-handwritten ink-on-paper format combines a sense of authenticity with the convenience of a digital database.

Launched in September 2008, Setlist.fm's current database consists mainly of recent concerts, although there's nothing to stop enthusiasts from listing shows dating back to Bruce Springsteen's glory days. Developed in tiny Liechtenstein (first time we've covered a Liechtenstein business), ad-supported Setlist.fm has potential, thanks to its niche focus, savvy execution and reliance on user participation. (Related: Video dictionary with a wiki touch.)

Website: www.setlist.fm
Contact: info@setlist.fm

Spotted by: Lea

When actress Helen Mirren portrays the character Phèdre this summer in a London production of Jean Racine's tragic play by the same name, it won't be only attendees at the Royal National Theatre who get to watch. Rather, theatre lovers around the globe will have a chance to see the production on the silver screen at a cinema or arts centre near them.

Through its new NT Live initiative, which kicks off with this summer's production, the Royal National Theatre will film the Phèdre performance live and in high definition, then broadcast it via satellite to some 50 venues across the UK—for a potential audience of up to 10,000 in a single evening—along with 100 more in the US, Canada and Europe. In addition to the performance itself, remote audiences will be able to watch backstage footage and interviews with artists. In the UK, the National is working with the Picturehouse chain and a range of independent cinemas and arts centres; ticket prices will likely be GBP 10. The National Theatre aims to broadcast three additional productions during its NT Live pilot season, and they'll be chosen in advance to allow cameras greater freedom; ticket prices will be adjusted accordingly.

Much like the Met's broadcast efforts, which we covered back in 2007, the NT Live initiative promises to bring live theatre to countless audiences who might not otherwise see it. It's a sort of democratization of the arts—both financially and geographically—and it's very likely coming soon to a cineplex near you. Symphony orchestras: you're up next! ;-)

Website: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
Contact: info@nationaltheatre.org.uk

Back in 2007 we noted the return of layaway payment plans, and in today's economic climate the need for such arrangements is clearly even greater. Completely understandable, then, that several upcoming music festivals are giving attendees a layaway option for purchasing their tickets.

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, for example, will take place from April 17 to 19 in Indio, Calif., featuring a range of indie-rock artists. A three-day pass to the festival costs USD 269 plus fees, but this year, would-be attendees buying online have two alternatives to purchasing their tickets outright. First, they can pay just 50 percent of the cost up front, plus Ticketmaster fees, and then have the remaining 50 percent automatically deducted on April 1. Alternatively, they can pay 10 percent up front, plus Ticketmaster fees, and have the remaining amount automatically deducted in two equal payments on March 1 and April 1. The last day to order via layaway is Feb. 28, but the option is not available for single-day tickets or camping travel packages. The Coachella festival is produced by Goldenvoice, which is offering similar layaway options at its Stagecoach Country Music Festival, also held in April in California.

Country Thunder USA, meanwhile, is offering an EZ-Pay option to purchase USD 119 general admission for its April festival in Arizona in two installments at no extra charge. Tickets must be purchased online by the end of this month.

Finally, for the June Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee, attendees who buy by the end of February have the option of purchasing their USD 249.50 general admission tickets in five installments of USD 50 plus applicable fees. Bonnaroo offered an installment plan last year as well, according to USA Today.

Economic woes may be hitting consumers far and wide, but that doesn't mean all luxuries have to be dispensed with. Be flexible in your terms of payment, and consumers may just pay you back—with interest! ;-)

Websites: www.coachella.com/layaway — www.bonnaroo.com/tickets/payment-plan.aspx — www.stagecoachfestival.com/layaway — www.countrythunder.com/ct_2003/assets/07web/az/informationaz.html

Spotted by: Judy McRae

There is no shortage of ways for music lovers to share and even have a hand in selling their favourite music, as we've noted on several occasions before, but it wasn't until just last week that we had seen a tool specifically designed to let them edit and rearrange recordings of individual songs.

SongMap is a new web application that allows users to create custom arrangements of songs and then download the corresponding audio files and sheet music. The technology was developed by Nashville-based LifeWay Worship to give church leaders new flexibility in arranging their services, and creating it involved what the company says was the largest known recording project in Nashville history, involving more than 150 professional musicians, vocalists and engineers to record as many as eight different versions of each of nearly 1,000 songs. Users of SongMap begin by selecting a song they're interested in from LifeWay's corresponding library. Starting with the traditional, default version, they can then make changes at will, such as rearranging the order of verses, choruses, introductions or transitions and even changing keys. Along the way, they can listen to the result of each change. Once they're satisfied, users can then download the audio files and sheet music for the arrangement they created. The cost to map a song ranges from USD 1.49 to USD 1.99 per part.

Though intended for religious contexts, SongMap obviously has far bigger implications in the mainstream music world, where the creative masses known as Generation C(ontent) will surely jump at the chance to make their own mixes just as eagerly as Generation C(ash) will snap up the ability to sell them. iTunes, Napster, Amazon—are you listening...? ;-) (Related: An online music store of one's own — Viral music sales through widgets — Music promotion with a profit-sharing twist.)

Website: www.lifewayworship.com
Contact: worship@lifeway.com

Spotted by: Judy McRae