Smashing Pumpkins Subscription Club

The wizard, er, Corgan, recently clarified a statement he made during an interview with the Chicago Tribune in December in which he said that 2007’s Zeitgeist is the Pumpkins’ last album. In an April 9 blog post he wrote, “I meant I don’t think I’m going to make albums in the old-fashioned way, meaning 12-15 songs, etc in one small package.”

That’s where the 12-week paid subscription service comes in.

Here’s what Corgan had to say about the project:

“The goal is to create a working model that is not profit motivated but rather information and access motivated. In exchange for a fixed resource base fans will be let inside in an unprecedented way to the creative process of preparing to make the next SP album while also inspiring an inter-active dialogue that will help shape the work. Because of the open window, further efforts will be made to provide content so that anyone participating can more readily follow the arc over the 12 weeks, with unprecedented access to lyrical and musical content.

“I am excited to make this offer to anyone who might be interested what goes on behind the wizard’s curtain. It is my goal to far exceed the normal docmentary [sic] process and use the moment to create something that invokes synchronicity, electricity, and faith into a moment that is ever unfolding.”

Corgan says the project is not profit motivated – but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to cost you. In exchange for $40, you’ll receive a minimum of five updates from the studio per week over the course of 12 weeks.

The Smashing Pumpkins’ Web site noted that “Subscribers will be able to watch the next era of Smashing Pumpkins music take shape. … Each update would be a minimum of 5 minutes in length. That would mean subscribers would receive at least 25 minutes of unique audio/video material per week, and at least 5 hours over the course of the 12 weeks.”

The service might also include live streaming video contact and the updates will eventually be part of a “substantial ‘art film.’”

The Pumpkins have created a new mailing list to gauge interest in the project. If there isn’t sufficient demand, Corgan and company will pursue the subscription service at a future time.

It will be interesting to see how many fans are interested in watching “the next era of Smashing Pumpkins” now that drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has departed, leaving Corgan as the only original band member left.

Corgan told the Chicago Tribune the band was over albums because “there is no point. People don’t even listen to it all. They put it on their iPod, they drag over the two singles, and skip over the rest.” If most fans aren’t willing to lay down the $14.99 to buy the full-length album, instead opting to purchase the hit songs on iTunes, what makes him think they’ll be willing to fork over $40?

The hardcore fans will probably be down for the service. Guess it just depends how much demand Corgan and co deem “sufficient.”

If you’re interested in the Pumpkins’ subscription service, click here to sign up for the band’s new mailing list.

Click here to check out the band’s Web site.