Band Using Silent Tracks on Spotify to Fund Tour

Los Angeles-based Vulfpeck is a funk band, but you wouldn’t know it by listening to the group’s latest album, Sleepify.

That’s because the entire album is silent.

It contains ten tracks, each about thirty seconds long. Not one contains a single note, or sound, or anything.

According to CNET, the group earns half a cent each time a track is played, equalling up to about five cents per album stream.

And if you keep the album on repeat while you sleep, as Vulfpeck asks, you could ultimately help the band earn around $4 a night.

It’s all part of a rather brilliant scheme to raise money for a free Vulfpeck tour. The band will use data from the music service to figure out which locations racked up the most plays, and then put on free concerts in those areas using the funds it raises from Sleepify.

It doesn’t seem like Spotify has a problem with Vulfpeck’s quiet collection of tracks. The service told CNET that Sleepify is a “clever stunt,” so it looks like the album isn’t in any danger at this point.

Could that change if more bands jump on the bandwagon? It’s something we’ll have to keep an eye on.

I’ve reached out to Spotify for a more complete statement, and will update if I get some unique information back.

In the meantime, I’ve included the first track from Sleepify below — “Z.” Give it a listen and leave us a comment below with your thoughts.