Radiohead: Pay what it’s worth

Lincoln Russell 2 Oct, 2007 at 10:47am ET Article published in Tech

Amidst speculation of a spring 2008 release for their next LP, Radiohead dropped a huge surprise this week when they announced In Rainbows, their seventh album, would be released October 10.

Further surprising fans and the industry was the announcement that the album would be available for download only via their website, and that the cost would be “up to you“. That’s right – you pay what you think the album is worth, and get DRM-free tracks.

A rather pricey special edition will be available in December with a physical CD, a second album of bonus tracks, and accessories.

Admittedly, Radiohead’s members are already financially secure for life, so there is little risk to them if their experiment fails. Is this a new model, a step to reevaluating the draconian music distribution system, or the setup for the most-pirated album in history? More importantly: what will you pay?

Comments

2 Oct 2007 ~ 11:25am BuddyJ I'll pay. I'm just on the fence if I wanna drop $81 for the double vinyl + CD + bonus disc + liner notes + digital download boxed set, or if I'll just buy the download off their site.
2 Oct 2007 ~ 11:27am Nomad Neat.
2 Oct 2007 ~ 12:13pm Linc The linked article also mentions that they're not sure if the "top album" lists will disqualify it since it doesn't have a real price (or maybe because they don't have a record company?). Personally, I think not including it on their lists would be to admit their own irrelevance: Radiohead is huge with or without being on someone's list.

I can't wait for the boxed set - I gotta pick up the album ASAP. I dunno, I'm figuring $10?
2 Oct 2007 ~ 12:32pm rapture Think the boxed set is too much and I'll never pay for a music download.

Just want the album, don't care about the other fluff.
2 Oct 2007 ~ 12:41pm BuddyJ The "hard copy" CD will come out some time after the new year. If you don't want to download it, you can wait til then and it should be in stores. At least, that's how I understand it to be.

I'm having a hard time resisting buying the vinyl. Radiohead records tend to be quite expensive. I found a used Kid A set going for $35 at the local record store.

Oh, and yeah Keebs, $10+. I'd give em $15 out of respect.
2 Oct 2007 ~ 1:40pm Linc

Buddy Jesus wrote:

yeah Keebs, $10+. I'd give em $15 out of respect.

That's true, it's certainly worth more than the $10 I spent to download Linkin Park's latest off iTunes. :o
2 Oct 2007 ~ 2:38pm Shorty

Keebler wrote:

That's true, it's certainly worth more than the $10 I spent to download Linkin Park's latest off iTunes. :o

Wow. Someone actually paid money for that?
2 Oct 2007 ~ 2:46pm Thrax I don't at all like Radiohead, but I think this is a really cool idea.
2 Oct 2007 ~ 2:54pm Shorty

Thrax wrote:

I don't at all like Radiohead, but I think this is a really cool idea.

Agreed.
8 Oct 2007 ~ 6:13pm BuddyJ NIN seems to be following suit.
10 Oct 2007 ~ 4:40pm SPIKE09 Average payment as of today £4 / $8 some cheap folks about methinks, reported by BBC radio 1
10 Oct 2007 ~ 4:52pm Nomad

SPIKE09 wrote:

Average payment as of today £4 / $8 some cheap folks about methinks, reported by BBC radio 1

You have to consider a few things though. People who pay like a dollar for the material were probably not going to buy it in stores. Also, they're not paying for any overhead on their items, the money is going direct to them. I'd imagine they are actually making more money.
11 Oct 2007 ~ 9:51am CB Indeed, if our dear Radiohead went through the normal publisher/distributer chanels, they would make between $.13 and $.60 per CD depending on their contract... Since they did this themselves, they only have to pay their agent (if they even have one of those) so they're proly getting 90% of the money you pay them. A better deal for everyone but Virgin (or whoever owned their previous publisher/distributer)
13 Oct 2007 ~ 9:54am rapture I still don't think a 160kbps mp3 is worth paying for, thats why I picked £0.00 and started the download. £40 is too much for an album that will sit on my shelf rotting after I rip the CD.

Supposedly there is a normal release early next year, I will pay for it then.
13 Oct 2007 ~ 8:13pm TBonZ I purchased the download for £7.50. I believe that's between $12-$14 CDN but won't know for sure until it's shows on my CC statement.

I generally like the whole album, quite mellow but groovy. I particularly like "All I need", "Reckoner" & "Videotape". I feel those are the heavyweight songs on this cd, IMO.