Blink 182's Tom DeLonge has been waffling some more about his side project Angels & Airwaves' decision to self-release their next album as a free download. He is making the whole album available for free in a bid to drive fans to the band's Modlife website, where they can connect with him and his bandmates on an ongoing basis in return for a monthly subscription. So, the idea is that while people don't pay for the music, the band will earn from those fans who sign up to the online community as a result of getting the free album.

DeLonge reckons it's the future like, speculating that up to 20 million people might download the album (he's got some marketing partnerships in place to help promote it) and that if 5% of those people sign up to Modlife he and his bandmates will make a mint. He told Billboard: "If only 5% of that 20 million came back and interacted with the Modlife platform that powers our website, the revenue would far exceed anything we'd make from a major label, in any way, shape or form. We're redefining the music business. And I honestly think we're going to be ten times bigger because of it".

I don't know whether DeLonge's figures are at all realistic, but it will be interesting to see how the project goes when the album is released on 14 Feb. If it does work, the Blink 182 man will be presumably be doubly happy, given that the Modlife fan-engagement platform is owned by a Mr Tom DeLonge.

Interestingly, I think I'm right in saying Angels & Airwaves are still in contract with Universal's Geffen Records, but that they've let him self-release the next album to promote his Modlife business model anyway. It's possible they're curious to see if it works too.