Rock Group Mastodon Latest Music Act to Accept Bitcoin

Yet another major musical act has announced that it will accept bitcoin as a form of payment for its latest work.

Mastodon, a US metal band on Warner Bros. Records, will release their new album, 'Once More ’Round The Sun', on 24th June. BitPay will act as the payments processor, enabling fans to order copies via the band’s official website using bitcoin, with pre-orders in the digital currency now also possible.

The album is the latest entry in a growing list of projects being made available for purchase with digital currency. Noted recording artists 50 Cent and former Spice Girl Mel B are among others who have tapped bitcoin as a new way for consumers to buy and experience music.

Mastodon announced the move via their Twitter account:

We're pleased to announce we'll be accepting @Bitcoin to pre-order our new album Once More 'Round The Sun at http://t.co/W4STGJOeRH.

— Mastodon (@mastodonmusic) June 11, 2014

'Once More ’Round The Sun' is Mastodon’s sixth studio album, following 'The Hunter' in 2011 and 'Crack the Skye' in 2009. The band has been nominated for two Grammy Awards, and has won other accolades for its unique metal sound.

Mastodon, based in Georgia and founded in 2000, are embarking on a world tour with stops in Europe, Asia and North America. The tour begins on 11th June and ends on the 12th September in Chicago, Illinois.

In a statement, Mastodon said that taking bitcoin payments is part of its broader effort to get music out to fans in new and relevant ways.

The band remarked:

In addition to Mastodon and 50 Cent, other performing and recording artists have looked to bitcoin to connect with tech-savvy fans, with some even mentioning bitcoin in songs and videos.

The digital currency has also found its way into concert scene. This summer, Budweiser and Coinbase are partnering to bring bitcoin payments to the beermaker’s Budweiser Made In America concert series. One promotional element involves the distribution of $10 in bitcoin to eligible participants who sign up for a Coinbase wallet.

On the grassroots level, bitcoin continues to make gains in the music scene as well. In the past few months, technology developers have built and debuted new platforms to crowdfund musical acts and enable artist tipping.

Disclaimer: CoinDesk founder Shakil Khan is an investor in BitPay

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