Super progressive rock band Radiohead announced today that they would let fans pick the price that they would pay to download their newest album, In Rainbows. This is an extremely powerful statement from the British Band who no longer has a record label. I love these guys and I love how they are sticking it to the record companies who have gotten fat off of overpricing “single-hit” albums from easily manipulated artists. Although, this is a move that only Radiohead could pull off, it is still not a move which they need to make. Many of their fans are loyal enough to pay full price for this album especially since their albums have always been void of filler tracks. Because of this, I believe that this move is more of an act of rebellion than a proof of concept for a new method of selling music.

Prince took major heat from the music industry for releasing his new album in a similar way. I think this type of reaction from record labels just proves their insecurities. After all of their cleverly marketed bells and whistles are removed, the music will be just as good as it ever was. Take the music away from their equation and the record labels have nothing. If the artist owns the music and they want to give it away, then more power to them! I hope this catches on as the newest vanity trend for musicians. I am pretty sure that somewhere within Radiohead’s completely admirable gesture, their egos are being stroked by the thought “we are so awesome that we are giving away our brand new album…and we are still gonna turn a profit!”

Some time after the digital release of In Rainbows, Radiohead will release an $82 box set containing the new CD along with another CD with additional tracks, 2 Vinyl Albums, and some photos and art. I think that purchases of this box set will increase as a result of this “soft digital release”. Especially, since many Radiohead fans probably still want that physical ownership of their music and especially those vinyl albums.

So how much will I choose to pay for Radiohead’s new CD? I plan on paying 99 cents per track provided that my illegally downloaded sample tracks are to my liking. Download Radiohead’s album on their website. Check out their old albums here.

Tags: Music ·