Radiohead: Pay what it's worth

LincLinc OwnerDetroit Icrontian
edited October 2007 in Science & 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 their 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: will you pay?

Comments

  • BuddyJBuddyJ Dept. of Propaganda OKC Icrontian
    edited October 2007
    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.
  • NomadNomad A Small Piece of Hell Icrontian
    edited October 2007
    Neat.
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    edited October 2007
    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?
  • rapturerapture
    edited October 2007
    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.
  • BuddyJBuddyJ Dept. of Propaganda OKC Icrontian
    edited October 2007
    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.
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    edited October 2007
    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
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited October 2007
    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? :(
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited October 2007
    I don't <i>at all</i> like Radiohead, but I think this is a <i>really cool idea.</i>
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited October 2007
    Thrax wrote:
    I don't <i>at all</i> like Radiohead, but I think this is a <i>really cool idea.</i>
    Agreed.
  • BuddyJBuddyJ Dept. of Propaganda OKC Icrontian
    edited October 2007
    NIN seems to be following suit.
  • SPIKE09SPIKE09 Scatland
    edited October 2007
    Average payment as of today £4 / $8 some cheap folks about methinks, reported by BBC radio 1
  • NomadNomad A Small Piece of Hell Icrontian
    edited October 2007
    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.
  • CBCB Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Der Millionendorf- Icrontian
    edited October 2007
    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)
  • rapturerapture
    edited October 2007
    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.
  • TBonZTBonZ Ottawa, ON Icrontian
    edited October 2007
    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.
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