More and more artists nowadays are opting to give away songs or entire albums online for free, including the Nine Inch Nails, whose new album "Slip" can be downloaded from the rock band's website.

In a post on the band’s official website, www.nin.com, the band’s leader, Trent Reznor, said, "Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years — this one’s on me."

Marking the first time a musical group offered a whole album online without giving their fans any means of payment, the 10-track record became available shortly after 3 a.m. Eastern time on Monday.

The posting also urged fans to spread and share the album however they'd like.

"We encourage you to remix it, share it with your friends, post it on your blog, play it on your podcast, give it to strangers, etc."

The vinyl version of the album will be made available only later this year in July.

The band, who sold over 10 million albums all over U.S. between 1992 and 2007, released nine songs from their instrumental album "Ghosts I-IV" for free on their site, with the full 36 tracks costing $5, in March this year.

According to the Nine Inch Nails manager, Jim Guerinot, the timing for the free digital download felt right because "we just put a record out [and] we're going on-sale with tickets," as quoted by Billboard.com.

Reznor's "been in a prolific phase and we didn't want 'business' to get in the way of getting the art in the hands of the fans. We've looked at the climate and the many advantages of being able to do whatever we want without bureaucracy," he added.

"The Slip," which is said to be a bit more "song-orientated" than "Ghosts I-IV," features Reznor on vocals and various instruments, as well as Josh Freese, Robin Finck and Alessandro Cortini. Reznor reportedly reunited with his "team of Alan Moulder and Atticus Ross out of his garage" on the recording.

"T[rent] let me know there was some new music coming and the next thing I knew there was a full-length record done.... It's very exciting to be finishing mixing on Thursday, mastering Friday, finishing artwork on Saturday and having the world hear it [Monday morning]!" Guerinot said.

British rock group Radiohead was the first to come up with a similar idea when they released their latest album "In Rainbows" under the "name your own price" campaign, when they asked fans to pay for it as much as they wanted, even nothing.