It’s no secret that musicians are emphasizing live performances and non-piratable merchandise to bolster slumping record sales. I’m intrigued by the concept of selling live recordings of concerts as collector’s items.

The Pixies are recording every show on their warm-up tour this month and releasing a limited edition CDs of each show. The recordings will no doubt be available on KaZaa within hours after each show, but the limited edition CDs are selling out before the shows even take place. This is a creative way to sell 15,000 CDs (1,000 for each show) and still make them rare enough to charge $22 - $25 each. The Pixies aren’t selling their music in this format – they’re selling the format itself. The CDs are actual tangible property that can’t be copied or recreated. The music makes them great, but the format makes them sell.

I can’t decide which show I should be buying. The Coachella show is already sold out.