Comments on: Radiohead Lets Fans Choose How Much to Pay for Album

By: Radiohead: This is Why Web Copy Matters

Radiohead: This is Why Web Copy Matters — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:59:52 +0000

[...] band announced they would release their new album online — through their own shopping cart, letting people pay whatever they like — Radiohead was widely praised by media and fans alike. The move was hugely disruptive [...]

By: Radiohead kill the entire music business « Green Tea Ice Cream

Radiohead kill the entire music business « Green Tea Ice Cream — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:35:44 +0000

[...] P.S. I don’t seem to be the only blogger guiltily trying to make up for past misdeeds… [...]

By: Robert Gorell

Robert Gorell — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:11:42 +0000

Exactly. And he was mocked for it, even though he was the one mocking Warner Brothers.

Artists can drive markets and work loopholes businesses don’t even know exist. When a company changes its name to, say, Cingular, then buys itself back a few years later, it’s considered “re-branding”. When Prince did it, people said he was throwing away his career. Yet he’s the only multi-platinum artist who’s been selling exclusively online for years — so a Gold record in online sales does far more for him than a multi-platinum record with Warner Brothers. What happened? Did he become a forgotten American pop star? Last year’s Super Bowl committee didn’t seem to think so.

Besides, something tells me “the new AT&T” may not garner as much brand affinity as “the artist currently known as the artist we’re currently talking about.”

Napster’s a great example. They major labels didn’t have the vision for how to monetize Napster. And just as Napster was about to show them the way (pre-iTunes Store), it was squashed. Now, Universal Music has even backed away from iTunes because THEY want to set their own prices — and that’s great. Perhaps the irony of Radiohead doing the same won’t be lost on the majors (or iTunes).

By: Brian Clark

Brian Clark — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:06:19 +0000

This is an excellent post, and it nails the new dynamics for a would with no need for record labels.

>>Whether you still think Prince is nuts for changing his name to that bizarre symbol icon in the 90’s is another story.

Prince did that to escape his Warner Brothers recording contract. It was the ballsiest legal move I’ve ever witnessed.

By: Carter

Carter — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:56:11 +0000

I saw this last night. I am a huge radiohead fan and so are my friends. I think I will pay 7 pounds (about $15 USD) just to support them and thank them for making such awesome music. More artists should do this.

I am also planning on buying the box set in case you were curious.