AC/Dc is probably out of touch, but the Eagles resounding success speaks volumes for going their own way.
Size of the US ( 4-7 time zones) doesn't really allow for even Prince doing a give away here. Newspapers are much more powerful in UK than here. They do offer an alternate distribution system.
Only NYtimes, Wall ST, and USA Today offer truly US national distribution. Even then a giveaway may be too costly, but worth investigating.