As Music Times reported on March 26, Wu-Tang Clan is selling only one copy of its album The Wu-Once Upon A Time in Shaolin, and they were looking for a lot of money to get it. RZA, the producer de facto spokesperson for the hip-hop collective, told media that bids for the album are up to $5 million at this point.
"So far, $5 million is the biggest number," he said. "I don't know how to measure it, but it gives us an idea that what we're doing is being understood by some. And there are some good peers of mine also, who are very high-ranking in the film business and the music business, sending me a lot of good will. It's been real positive."
The album will be presented in a schmaltzy silver and nickel box, handcrafted in Morocco, and will tour museums around the world. Fans will be able to pay an "entry fee" to hear the record at its stops, but they'll be subject to intense security to prevent the music from getting out. The buyer of the album will get to choose what happens to it from there, whether that means keeping it for personal gain, giving it away for free on the internet, or selling downloads for profit.
It's an advanced album-release concept, and $5 million seems to suggest that it's worked out for the Wu. The album features 31 tracks (hopefully no skits), meaning that's about $161,290 a track. Of course, RZA could be pulling our leg. He didn't give a name for the bidder, so he could just be inspiring those on the outside to bid more than $5 million. Either way, the business plan is working well.
Hopefully the final buyer will share it with the rest of us lesser folk (Music Times offered a bid of $38.97). Of course, if you can't afford The Wu's mystery album, the group's A Better Tomorrow is expected to be released to the whole world this summer.
