radiohead - in rainbows

[blue]

Radiohead have surprised fans and industry alike by announcing the release of their new album in a mere 10 days time - via their website. 'In Rainbows' will be available as a download from radiohead.com on 10th October, with a double-cd, double-vinyl and extras boxset version available by mail from 3rd December. No record company involved.

I think there are going to be a lot of very nervous record company executives watching this with interest. Given the band is one of the biggest out there, we could be seeing a new model for the release and purchase of music by major artists, if it works. I think it's a great idea, I'm not particularly bothered about having a physical object in my hands to look at it so I'll happily purchase it from the website as a download.

Really though ... 'Radiohead In Rainbows'.

I love those boys.

[alx5962]

I read about this earlier too.

so here is the link : http://www.inrainbows.com

[blue]

Jonny has posted a message on the band's blog saying it's been 'busier than expected' at the ordering end of things, I know from the fan boards today that some people have had delays in trying to access the site. I guess the idea is going down well with the fans.

What's really interesting is that the band are not charging any particular price for the download - it's 'whatever you like'. You can pre-order it for nothing, if you like. This is quite clever marketing in a way because most loyal fans will feel morally obliged to pay a reasonable price for it, whilst appreciating the fact that the band have offered them it for free. Those who take it for free will probably be the minority.

Clearly the band will make most of their profits from this album via the physical boxset version, of course. Even though it's pricey at £40, many seem to be opting to pre-order it because of the extras (disc of bonus tracks, hardback book of artwork etc). The boxset option includes the digital download for free on 10th October. It's all pretty clever. And RH won't have to share any profit they make with a record company, which is fantastic.

Personally I'll order the download and pay a tenner for it, which is what I'd pay for a cd version from Amazon.

[aermancer]

Clearly the band will make most of their profits from this album via the physical boxset version, of course. Even though it's pricey at £40, many seem to be opting to pre-order it because of the extras (disc of bonus tracks, hardback book of artwork etc).

they're not going to offer it as a normal £9 CD?!

[blue]

That remains to be seen, it's possible they may eventually have a single-cd option, but certainly for the initial release it's digital download or boxset only. From what I've been able to guage on the boards today, complaints about the lack of an ordinary single-cd option have been minimal, literally a handful of people. The vast majority of fans posting today have been ecstatic, and lots of them have pre-ordered already. I think Radiohead know their fanbase pretty well. They know that there's basically two components - the younger lot who tend to download most of their music, and the older ones who have the disposable income to splash out for a really well done boxset.

We'll see what happens, but I think provided the website can cope with the traffic, this is going to be a huge success for the band. And a typically Yorkian two-finger salute to the record industry.


STINA NORDENSTAM ARE YOU WATCHING?!!

[sound world]

Although they're easy to hate,one of the traditional functions of record companies is to cream off some of the profits from hugely popular music to bankroll other artists who are either just starting out/work in a minority music (everything except pop and rock,then)/are 'difficult',unknown etc etc.Much as I think Radiohead's stance is admirable and probably indicative of the way things are going,I do feel a worry for non-mainstream music. It's OK for people like Radiohead and Prince,who can both afford to take such financial risks,to 'give' their work away.I think RH are hedging by offering the box as well-knowing that there are plenty of trad buyers left,plus legions of fans/completists who are only too happy to part with money for ANYthing with the band's imprimatur.
Meaanwhile it's all over the net.I've just been Stumbling and came across three direct discussions of RHs action,plus the 'Rainbow' site itself,in 15 minutes of random Stumbling .

[aermancer]

That remains to be seen, it's possible they may eventually have a single-cd option, but certainly for the initial release it's digital download or boxset only. From what I've been able to guage on the boards today, complaints about the lack of an ordinary single-cd option have been minimal, literally a handful of people. The vast majority of fans posting today have been ecstatic, and lots of them have pre-ordered already. I think Radiohead know their fanbase pretty well. They know that there's basically two components - the younger lot who tend to download most of their music, and the older ones who have the disposable income to splash out for a really well done boxset.

well bollocks to the happy medium then.

[barrett]

Iread yesterday that The Charlatans are giving away their next album as a free download-

http://arts.independent.co.uk/music/new ... 015279.ece

It was sugested to them Alan McGee,their manager,saying that "no-one buys cds anymore.For every one bought,nine are copied from it.The moneys in live shows and MERCHANDISE now"

It doesnt bode well for Stina and her ilk.

[RobB]

This is quite clever marketing in a way because most loyal fans will feel morally obliged to pay a reasonable price for it, whilst appreciating the fact that the band have offered them it for free. Those who take it for free will probably be the minority.

What about those of us who require paying to listen to their music?

[blue]

Don't listen.

I think if record companies DID still use the profits from bigger mainstream artists to subsidise non-mainstream music, people would be fine with that. The problem is, it's been a long time since record companies did that. They're not interested in non-mainstream music; the profits go into their own pockets, these days. Add to that their idiotic and vindictive stance re downloading, and the inflated price they expect people to pay for new release CDs, and it's easy to see why they've become loathed to the point where artists and public are actively seeking their demise.

What Radiohead are effectively doing here is leaking their own album to the 'net, giving people the option to pay what they like for it, and counting on the fact that many in their large and devoted fanbase will ALSO want a physical copy of the album with artwork. (Anecdotal evidence from the boards in the past couple of days seems to suggest they are correct.) There's no way a record company would have gone along with something like that.

Ultimately it's an experiment by one of the biggest bands in the world to see if a new business model will work, because one needs to be found. Given RH are one of the few bands who could take this risk, I think a lot of smaller bands/artists may end up being very grateful to them for breaking new ground.

[blue]

well bollocks to the happy medium then.

According to RH's publicist yesterday, the band are considering a single-cd release of the album early in '08. Reading between the lines, I think they're trying to figure out how to get it into shops without the aid of a record company. They'd need to considerably expand their pressing/distribution operation. I'm sure they'll work it out.

In the meantime, you can always download it. For free.

[sound world]

These are interesting times for music...I'd love to be around in 100 years or so to see how it's all panned out,(if global capitalism hasn't finished off the earth by then).
The difficult question is the one of value,it seems to me.You could imagine artists asking for a credit card fee (or something) on their own website,to DL their music,- as happens with iTunes,eg.But free 'illegal' downloading has thrown into question the whole notion of 'value',and if artists are going to invite people to pay whatever they think it's worth,it gets even more muddied.This isn't to say that what record companies have been charging for CDs in the name of value isn't monstrously inflated-but if an artist has any intellectual property rights to a piece of their creation,it has to have an intrinsic value in the marketplace,so that they get paid for their work somehow.
I like the way that RHs idea is quite anarchic in that respect.It will make things happen,anyway.I wonder if they'll publish figures for downloads/how much people have coughed up,etc?

[blue]

Yes, there's been a lot of curiosity about that on the boards, I think the general feeling is that people are hoping they'll publish the figures. We know the band do read the fan sites so it'll be interesting to see if they accede to that wish.

None of the sales will be eligible for chart placings, of course, which is interesting. If artists don't need to give a shit about charts because they're no longer depending on record companies for finance, presumably charts themselves will vanish at some point. They'll be irrelevant.

[sound world]

Were charts EVER relevant??
As I've said before,charts are no real indicator of anything except an absurdity.
Substitute eg supermarket items for songs and you see what I mean-'and this week's fastest mover,up 5 places to number 7,LENOR!! but still Britain's best-selling item this week,yes,dontcha just love 'em, it's Nestlé once again with their third consecutive number one,SHREDDIES!' (etc etc)

[blue]

The point I'm making Dave is that, though charts are irrelevant to most music lovers, they are highly relevant to the major record companies, who use placings to decide the level of finance they're willing to give artists. Record companies can manipulate artists to produce a certain kind of music, because of that financial dependence. Take that dependence away, the artists don't need to give a shit about chart placings, and that frees them up to make the kind of music they actually want to make. If charts cease to be a factor, we could be seeing a much greater diversity of music in the 'mainstream'.