Dwindling album sales have been a major thorn in the side of musicians since the dawn of the digital revolution. Different artists have adopted different approaches to tackle the problem. Some, like Beyonce, have forgone marketing and released unanticipated material while U2 actually forced their music on an unsuspecting public through an automatic iTunes download.  Needless to say, certain techniques have worked better than others.

Nipsey Hussle, is a rapper whose innovative album release appears to be yielding results. Despite releasing his album, Mailbox Money, for free online, Hussle has brought out 100 physical CD copies, 60 of which have been sold, each priced at $1,000.

It begs the question: who would ever pay a thousand dollars for something they can get free? Well, exclusive experience tends to illicit exclusive customers with available cash - people are willing to pay if they feel they're getting something unique. (Information regarding the contents of the CD is kept strictly secret, but a purchase does come with an invitation to a private listening session for Hussle’s next album.)  

This isn’t the only example of an unorthodox sales strategy. Wu-Tang Clan’s Once Upon A Time in Shaolin will soon see its only physical copy sold to a buyer of the group’s choosing. Last April the album reportedly received an offer of five million dollars.