New York Indie artist Ari Hest will launch an ambitious new project titled "52," a web-based subscription service designed to deliver a new song each week throughout 2008 to all registrants, with his first single titled "One Two." At the end of the year, Hest will compile the top tracks as voted by fans on to a new disc for release in 2009.
After three years on Columbia Records, the new business model will allow Hest to return to his independent ideals and connect directly with his fans again. Hest explains, "After an amicable departure from my record label this summer, I decided it was time to try something a little different. It feels great to be an independent artist again, and I’m more inspired than ever to write and record. I was looking for a new way to present my music, so my manager and I came up with the idea of a project which we’re calling "52". Starting the first week of January, 2008, I’ll be releasing one new, original song every week for a year through a new website."
The site will have three levels of subscriptions: Basic ($20), Preferred ($35) and Premium ($75). All subscription rates are for the calendar year of 2008 and include 52 high quality mp3s, downloadable weekly from arihest.com, access to lyrics, blogs, voting polls and other interactive forums. The Preferred and Premium levels have additional benefits. Subscribers that pre-order before January 6 will receive a downloadable, live 4-song EP.
