Radiohead Announce Fans Can Pay What They Want For New Album ‘In Rainbows’
On Monday Radiohead announced the details of their new album ‘In Rainbows’ and sent shockwaves through an already anguished record industry by telling fans “You can pay what you want!”
The album will be released for download on October 10th and you, the loyal and fair minded Radiohead fan, will be able to choose how much you pay for the privilege of the long awaited release.
What this means is that in effect you could have the new Radiohead masterpiece on your PC a week today for as little as 1 penny (2 cents). In reality most fans, at least the ones who would have gone out and bought the album through more traditional means in the first place, will choose to pay considerably more for the pleasure.
A special edition box set of the album with a vinyl version and other extra goodies is also going to be available for £40 ($81). And if I know Radiohead fans as well as I think I do, these will be snapped up whatever the cost.
What has brought this incredible decision on is the fact that Radiohead aren’t now tied down to a contract. They released all of their previous 6 studio albums through Capitol Records but now with nothing holding them back they are trying a new approach to distribution, and making use of the new technology to boot.
‘In Rainbows’ will be released as a DRM-Free Mp3 Download next Wednesday and is already expected to smash download records, at least that is if the band’s official website (the only place to get it) can stand up to the traffic onslaught.
This decision by the innovative British alternative rockers comes a few months after Prince upset the whole industry by giving his new album ‘Planet Earth’ away with a British Sunday newspaper. And I’m pretty sure this will have an already ailing music industry up in arms, especially at boardroom level.
But this could be the best decision Radiohead have ever made. As well as virtually ensuring no advance copies will find their way on to illegal sharing sites (what’s the point when it’s virtually free anyway), it also rewards loyal fans, and embraces the new technology which is going to play a massive part in the future record industry.
What do you think of the innovative move? Will you be downloading the album, and how much are you planning on paying?
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POSTED IN: Albums, Alternative, Downloads, Indie, Industry, News, Radiohead
5 opinions for Radiohead Announce Fans Can Pay What They Want For New Album ‘In Rainbows’
FYI: Radiohead
Oct 5, 2007 at 9:42 am
[…] by now you’ve heard the news about Radiohead’s new album, if not, you can go here or there for more info. With all this buzz, it seems like a good time for an FYI on […]
Emma
Oct 5, 2007 at 11:38 am
I like it! I’m a big Radiohead fan and I’ll be happy to download this album - and pay for it, too. The fact that they’re offering it this way makes me want to pay more than just a few cents even if that’s all I’d technically have to pay. I want support this kind of venture.
DaveP
Oct 6, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Same here Emma, it’s because they’ve offered it this way that I’m actually more willing to pay the asking price.
Some new innovation has to be formulated for legal downloads.
Jed - The London Traveler
Oct 9, 2007 at 6:15 am
Hi, Dave. I’m a HUGE Radiohead fan, and happily shelled out the £40 for the discbox. I want the second CD, the artwork, and the vinyl. Some of the coolest albums I own are the Radiohead special edition albums and the Pink Floyd original “Pulse” CD.
Killed By The Video Star
Dec 5, 2007 at 3:15 pm
[…] after they decided to eschew the chance to make a killing with their new record, and instead offered it as a download for whatever price people wanted to […]
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