I've never been a big fan of the grunge sound, but that may just change now: Eric Olsen reports that one of the premiere grunge bands, Perl Jam, has left its record label, Epic; and rather than signing with another label, they've elected to fly solo:

If Pearl Jam — now touring the United States to wildly enthusiastic crowds — is able to create a successful business model mobilizing its fans via the Internet and engaging in such “crazy” stunts as releasing live double albums of every show it performs, this could be the beginning of a stampede away from the lumbering dinosaurs that the major labels have become.

Great Googlymoogly, I hope so.

They're selling recorded copies of every live show? That's an amazing idea; it's at least as good a souvenir as a tee shirt. I attended a Steely Dan concert in 1994 that turned out to be an important event in my life. I'd love to have a recording of that specific performance, and I'd pay serious money to get it. That's a brilliant idea, and a superb example of what can be done when a disruptive technology starts subverting an ossified business model.

Eric asks,

But can the Pearl Jam organization get enough recorded music out there through its Web site, fan club and independent distribution to make a go of it without major label distribution?

The dinosaurs will be watching closely.

So will I.