Pearl Jam Album Deal

American grunge giants Pearl Jam are set to step outside the music industry for the release of their new album.

Formed by Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam are set to turn 20 years old in 2011. In preparation for their anniversary the band are due to re-release their studio album in expanded packaging, with debut album 'Ten' being the first to gain the expansive treatment.

However it's not all nostalgia in the Pearl Jam camp with the American giants putting the finishing touches to their new album. Recorded with Brendan O'Brien at the mixing desk, it unites the two talents for the first time in a decade.

Recording sessions have not gone smoothly however. When leaving the studio one afternoon bassist Jeff Ament was assaulted and robbed. Losing thousands of dollars, the musician was left injured and was forced to go to hospital.

However Ament seems to be on the mend, with Pearl Jam recently appearing on 'Tonight With Conan O'Brien'. The band are rumoured to have finished recording the album, which has the working title of 'Backspacer'.

In an interview with US magazine Billboard the band's manager Kelly Curtis confirmed that the new album will not be released on an established record label. Previously, Pearl Jam were signed to Sony Records for 18 years.

Instead, the band will focus on individual avenues including “an online retailer, a mobile partner, a gaming company and with a network or possibly networks of indie retail stores.”

Target have previously only sold albums as part of an exclusive deal, but Curtis claims that the company have allowed Pearl Jam to work with other partners as they are “cool enough to realise that little independent record stores are not their competition."

"This is an ongoing experiment," he said "Every time we do something it's new for us, and were not trying to tackle the whole world at once. All we've been searching for forever is independence and control over our own stuff. The way of releasing records is changing every day. This is the best way we could do it ourselves in America. Right or wrong, we'll figure that out and make it better the next time."

Pearl Jam are the latest massive act to move away from the world of record labels. In the past Madonna, U2, Jay-Z and more have signed deals with ticket company Live Nation to release their material with more expected to follow.

Pearl Jam are expected to release their comeback single next month.