March 8 has passed without any sign of Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign’s anticipated second installment of Vultures, hardly surprising to anyone. Reports from a Kanye fan account suggest that Kanye is exploring a direct-to-consumer sales approach, opting to sell the album exclusively on his website, Yeezy.com, and bypassing streaming platforms altogether.
Quoting a private conversation on Instagram, YeFanatics stated that Kanye believes streaming devalues music and is advocating for selling albums directly on his website, leveraging his massive Instagram following to potentially sell millions of albums. While unconventional, the idea has merit, especially considering the increasing trend among artists to seek alternative distribution methods that offer more control and ownership.
However, it’s likely that Kanye is considering this approach primarily because it’s his only viable option. While he cited being “in the lab” with Ty Dolla Sign as the reason for the album delay, it’s possible that the decision is also influenced by the financial considerations of delaying a highly anticipated project.
Kanye’s past actions, such as prematurely releasing Vultures 1 through a connection at FUGA, without considering the repercussions, indicate a lack of foresight. Burning bridges by releasing only the first part of a promised three-part album is a questionable strategy. Nevertheless, for an artist known for controversial decisions like rejecting lucrative endorsement deals, perhaps inconsistency in planning shouldn’t be unexpected.
In light of these challenges, there’s always the Stem Player as an alternative, albeit with its own set of uncertainties.
