Jenn's Reverie
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Radiohead says 'screw you labels!'
Radiohead will be offering its newest album by digital download, allowing fans to pay whatever they think is a fair price for their newest 10 songs. The band will allow users to pay a minimum of 1 pence (plus a 45p credit card processing fee) to download the In Rainbows album from the band’s web site.
Given the band is no longer under contract with a label, they are free to distribute their own music how they best see fit. By cutting out the middle man (iTunes, Amazon MP3, etc.), they can charge fans much less to enjoy their music. The band had previously been with EMI for their last album, which was released in 2003.
Radiohead has never made their music available on iTunes, and it now appears they never will.
- Mashable
----------------------------------
So, it's as Steve Isaacs said, historical move by a great band. I've only seen everyone saying they got it for free, because you can... I just got it and I opted to pay $10 bucks for it. Not only because I want the album, but because I think what they're doing is freakin' great.
I'm just listening to it and so far so good!
---------------------
Here's some discussion about it...
Chrissy: "hopefully others will follow suite...ms?"
Daniel: "They're releasing the record as a CD in a few months time on an independant label.
It's been nothing more than a marketing gimmick."
Donna: "Way to rain on everyone's parade Daniel.
I should get this CD. Maybe when I get paid."
Daniel: "Well, i don't like Radiohead so meh (i do like the 'pay what you want' idea though. i just don't like how they always intended to release it on CD anyway and were essentially just doing this as a numbers experiment with a back up plan to make sure that the sales still come)
If they actually had a spine, they'd do it like Saul Williams and Trent Reznor have with SW's new album.
More info, plus a download link, can be found here - http://www.niggytardust.com"
Jenn: "I don't think it's a gimmick. They've said on the site where you get the download that they'd be releasing a boxset all along. And of course they're gonna release something for sale. You know everyone and their mother is going to pay, oh, nothing for the download. They gotta make their money somehow. And they are opposite the artists who bitch about people downloading. And I say, rock that independant label!"
Kristen: "And I think it's more about the statement than anything. I sense this out of Dave (Navarro) at some point."
Jenn: "It's a huge statement, too. I'm hoping it is a revolution of some kind and the labels start getting scared and realizing they've done fucked up. OR, just leave the labels to Britney and all those kinda people. Besides, everyone is starting their own labels nowdays. It's already happening. I think Radiohead just took it one step farther. Whether or not you like Radiohead, they are a very popular band and coming from them, it's a statement not to be missed. We know just about any label would sign them. They can still sell the shit out of their albums. And from the reviews I've read, people are liking this one."
Kristen: "It just makes sense. A big part of the reason why people stopped buying music was because they refuse to pay out the ass for a single CD. So why not have the people pay what they want? The $10 that Jenn gave is reasonable, and they'd sell so many more copies that way."
Jenn: "Right. I'd say I usually spend at LEAST 15 bucks for a CD and even up to 20 plus at times. I thought 10 bucks for a new Radiohead CD was a steal. Given there is no artwork, etc. But I paid the 10 bucks strictly to support the statment as I could have gotten a CD I wanted for free, from the band themselves. Not pirating it."
Another thing I'm thinking is that if this worksout as I hope it does, musicians will be able to sell their music for less as they will be keeping all the profits. I see it as working for them as well as the fans.
Given the band is no longer under contract with a label, they are free to distribute their own music how they best see fit. By cutting out the middle man (iTunes, Amazon MP3, etc.), they can charge fans much less to enjoy their music. The band had previously been with EMI for their last album, which was released in 2003.
Radiohead has never made their music available on iTunes, and it now appears they never will.
- Mashable
----------------------------------
So, it's as Steve Isaacs said, historical move by a great band. I've only seen everyone saying they got it for free, because you can... I just got it and I opted to pay $10 bucks for it. Not only because I want the album, but because I think what they're doing is freakin' great.
I'm just listening to it and so far so good!
---------------------
Here's some discussion about it...
Chrissy: "hopefully others will follow suite...ms?"
Daniel: "They're releasing the record as a CD in a few months time on an independant label.
It's been nothing more than a marketing gimmick."
Donna: "Way to rain on everyone's parade Daniel.
I should get this CD. Maybe when I get paid."
Daniel: "Well, i don't like Radiohead so meh (i do like the 'pay what you want' idea though. i just don't like how they always intended to release it on CD anyway and were essentially just doing this as a numbers experiment with a back up plan to make sure that the sales still come)
If they actually had a spine, they'd do it like Saul Williams and Trent Reznor have with SW's new album.
More info, plus a download link, can be found here - http://www.niggytardust.com"
Jenn: "I don't think it's a gimmick. They've said on the site where you get the download that they'd be releasing a boxset all along. And of course they're gonna release something for sale. You know everyone and their mother is going to pay, oh, nothing for the download. They gotta make their money somehow. And they are opposite the artists who bitch about people downloading. And I say, rock that independant label!"
Kristen: "And I think it's more about the statement than anything. I sense this out of Dave (Navarro) at some point."
Jenn: "It's a huge statement, too. I'm hoping it is a revolution of some kind and the labels start getting scared and realizing they've done fucked up. OR, just leave the labels to Britney and all those kinda people. Besides, everyone is starting their own labels nowdays. It's already happening. I think Radiohead just took it one step farther. Whether or not you like Radiohead, they are a very popular band and coming from them, it's a statement not to be missed. We know just about any label would sign them. They can still sell the shit out of their albums. And from the reviews I've read, people are liking this one."
Kristen: "It just makes sense. A big part of the reason why people stopped buying music was because they refuse to pay out the ass for a single CD. So why not have the people pay what they want? The $10 that Jenn gave is reasonable, and they'd sell so many more copies that way."
Jenn: "Right. I'd say I usually spend at LEAST 15 bucks for a CD and even up to 20 plus at times. I thought 10 bucks for a new Radiohead CD was a steal. Given there is no artwork, etc. But I paid the 10 bucks strictly to support the statment as I could have gotten a CD I wanted for free, from the band themselves. Not pirating it."
Another thing I'm thinking is that if this worksout as I hope it does, musicians will be able to sell their music for less as they will be keeping all the profits. I see it as working for them as well as the fans.
posted by Jenn Doll at 8:32 PM
15 Comments:
I'm in love with this idea. If TPC ever gets their asses together, I have a strong feeling that they'll do it this way. They never came off as the "we're in it for the money" kind of guys. They just want to make music and make it accessible to the fans. And you're right. They'd be able to keep the profits themselves, which would potentially mean making more money in the long run. No more shitty labels taking away touring opportunities.
I haven't liked Radiohead since OK Computer (which was excellent), but I'm tempted to buy this (paying $10) just out of general principle. Kind of pisses me off that some people are downloading it and not giving money. Geez, at least give a dollar or something.
Ditto what zombieslayer said. I like them but I've never been hugely into them. BUT this is so radder than rad that I think I'd pay $10, just to give them props.
That sounds just like a story I heard weeks ago ... oh, wait ... it's the SAME story. z-z-z-z-z
Catch up to the times. This story was not very ecletic at all.
NO MORE WORD VERIFICATION!!!!
That sounds just like a story I heard weeks ago ... oh, wait ... it's the SAME story. z-z-z-z-z
Catch up to the times. This story was not very ecletic at all.
NO MORE WORD VERIFICATION!!!! Goddammnit. This is my third try.
Kristen, you're so right. TPC seemed humble as hell to their fans. Even if we didn't love the CD in its entirety, we couldn't help but to love the band and what they did. It was truly an experience watching their birth and them grow to (ONe). And we all know they'd have toured more if Capitol weren't such pieces of shit. Two reps of Capitol approached us at their last show at The Roxy and made all these promises that we didn't even ask for. They took pictures and got info. and all this crap. They were interested in the chalking of the sigil and the candles and its purpose and blah blah. And for what? Nothing. It was to put THEIR name out there in the end. Not TPC. I think TPC did the internet thing before anyone else, just no one knew about it. They basically marketed their album themselves and through the fans. What they did was ingenious.
Zombie, I'm not even a huge fan of Radiohead and to be honest this is the first album I buy from them and it was, as I said, strictly for the principle. And it pisses me off, too. Espeically the "oh my God, I'm a HUGE Radiohead fan! and I totally just got the CD for free." What? You couldn't pay a freakin' dollar?! Are you kidding me? Mmhmm... some fan. Way to support a cause. But then again, not everyone loves music the way we do, eh?
Loops, give them the props they deserve, baby! Even if it's a buck. Seriously. What big name is gonna give us that kinda opportunity again? It could happen, and if it does, this is the beginning of a new era in music!
Rat, Shut. Your. Face. I'm talking about it now because I want to talk about it now. On my blog. And where's that little handicap person to help you out with that word verifciation?
How about those dolphins??
Laughing.
Seriously, do you really get spam messages. I have no verification & haven't gotten a machine robot message in over a year. Maybe blogger really fixed things up while you were in the penitentiary & not blogging SINCE FEBRUARY!
I'd pay $15 to NOT have to listen to Britney Spears.
I like the album a lot more now than I did on my first listen. And yeah yeah, I wanted to give them money too, but I only had 26 cents in my account and in pounds I bet that translates into -.75. So really, I saved them money. I'm just like Geico.
WORD VERIFICATION, WOE IS ME IT'S SO EXHAUSTING TYPING THIS OUT JENN HOW COULD YOU EVEN ALLOW THIS ON YOUR BLOG YOU'RE A TERRIBLE PERSON AND I'M GOING TO KILL MYSELF FOR EVEN HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS.
Ah, I have found you again, at last!
I'd pay $15 to see Jenn's left nipple.
I paid $16 for the Eddie Vedder (only the 2nd CD this year - the other 1 was Polyphonic Spree at the show and all money straight to them - $12) and it only lasted about 25 minutes for 11 songs. I felt like I was ripped off incredibly. That said, paying what you want seems a good idea - esp. if all money goes straight to the band and you've established yourself thoroughly like Radiohead has - why pay for the processing and distribution and all of those other guys fees when you can make what you would have anyway?
Alas, Wilco did something similar with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (when they got dumped from their label) by taking it to the free sites for fans to find. Alas, they got signed and now they seem to have a bigger fanbase than most indie bands could dream of.
That said, I saw Radiohead in 95 (opening for REM and the Crapberries). Just thought I'd add the aside.
dang.
i had a great comment here and the word verification thing screwed it up.
grrrrr
Hey here's an update on this. Over 1.4 million people downloaded the album and only 40% paid anything with the average being $6 (US average $8.05 rest of the world $4.34) If I remember the numbers from the article correctly.
Good to see you posting again Jenn...thanks for visiting my site also.
Post a Comment
<< Home