Free music downloads is a term that has been scaring the music industry for some time; scaring all those except the trail blazers. There are a few groups of forward thinkers that are dragging the industry towards the realisation that, in whatever form it takes, free music downloads is here to stay.

The popular rock band Nine Inch Nails have recently proved themselves as forward thinkers and, in what is undoubtedly a very brave experiment, are releasing their forthcoming album in its entirety for free. Free music downloads on their website.

This follows Radiohead’s move last year when the band released “In Rainbows” to the public for download at a price that they set. Want to pay 1 penny? Sure, go ahead. Radiohead’s lead singer Thom Yorke has since stated that this was a one off, but with such big names offering free music downloads it can only mean that the industry, finally, has to take notice.