Forgoing the physical release for just digital has been done. The “Radiohead” model is no longer newsworthy. You packaged your CD free with Britain’s Mail On Sunday newspaper? No one cares. So what’s an artist to do these days to grab your attention? How about releasing a single mp3 containing three-quarters of an hour’s worth of music? For 49 cents. That’s what Paul Westerberg just did. Of course, it helps to be a legendary musician… this would have passed right under everyone’s radar if it was done by a no-name artist (or if it was done by quasi-schizo rocker-cum-blog-oversharer Ryan Adams).

But it’s a pretty cool idea! Besides featuring a wide selection of new(ish) Westerberg material, the track is also apparently interspersed with random 1-2 second sound clips, and has a peppering of covers thrown in, to boot. Sort of like a music podcast, but more interesting for being wholly original.

So go grab it already; aren’t you curious? Only 49 cents!

And words of advice to the next artist who’s thinking about doing this: no one will care. Think of something else.