Foto: AFP
Bob Dylan's first attempt at bringing recorded music into the fine art marketplace has been a huge success.
Dylan's one-of-a-kind recording of "Blowin' in the Wind" to a new music format called Ionic Original has sold at auction for $1,769,508. The identity of the winning bidder has not been disclosed.
The American music icon Dylan recorded the unique version of the 1963 classic in March of 2021 with longtime producer T Bone Burnett.
As a format, Ionic Original is described as a hybrid of CD and vinyl formats, offering the highest possible audio quality.
Whereas Dylan's original recording features only himself on guitar, harmonica and vocals, the new version reportedly employs a band, including Burnett on guitar, Greg Leisz on mandolin and Don Was on bass.
Only one master of the session exists — hence the hefty price — though potential buyers were treated to listening experiences in Los Angeles, New York and London, ahead of the July 7 auction with Christie's Auction House.
The $1.76 million price tag well surpassed Christie's $700,000 - $1.2 million estimate.
Burnett says that Ionic Originals can't be mass-produced, meaning similar projects (Dylan reportedly has other recordings in his quiver) will likely serve as collector's items and rare investments.
While the format may not change the music industry altogether, he says it could serve as another avenue for musicians to earn a living in an era where music is being increasingly devalued.