-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 +iZ/YmgYV5xsZvphjSshzg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001250853-09-000018.txt : 20090203
<SEC-HEADER>0001250853-09-000018.hdr.sgml : 20090203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090203191353
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001250853-09-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090130
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090203
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Saaf Randy
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001334521

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30063
		FILM NUMBER:		09566453

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(310) 956-3300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2461 SANTA MONICA BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE D-250
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90404

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARTISTDIRECT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001095079
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				954644384
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1601 CLOVERFIELD BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400 SOUTH
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90404
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3109563300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1601 CLOVERFIELD BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400 SOUTH
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90404
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001095079</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARTISTDIRECT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARTDE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001334521</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Saaf Randy</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2461 SANTA MONICA BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE D-250</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA MONICA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90404</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Exective Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2964205</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2964205</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Subordinated Convertible Note</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2250000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-28</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-07-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2250000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 30, 2009, Issuer cancelled the outstanding warrants issued to Reporting Person in connection with Issuer's subdebt financing on July 28, 2005. Issuer also converted the Subordinated Note held by Reporting Person into 2,964,205 restricted shares of the Common Stock of Issuer by dividing the sum of the outstanding principal, accrued interest and late charges and amounts due under the Regnegotation Rights Agreement dated July 28, 2005, by the conversion price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Randy Saaf</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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