dannthr Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Radiohead's new album, IN RAINBOWS, is on preorder and when you check out (the download version), you type in your own price. You can pay as little or as much as you want. http://www.radiohead.com/ Seems like a radical approach to the fact that the industry's standby commercial model isn't really working anymore. People will take it for free anyway, why bother using force on them with silly DRM? Let the fans pay what they feel its worth. I don't know what it is about it, but I like it--it makes me want to pay like... 20 bucks or something for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liontamer Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Wow. Certainly interested in how this turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OverCoat Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I will paypal Thom Yorke five dollars and fifty-three cents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zircon Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 This isn't exactly a new idea... the record label Magnatune has offered all of its albums at buyer-defined pricing for years. It does apparently work well for them so I imagine Radiohead will make a nice profit too. Of course, it helps that they've had major label backing and promotion, hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in them, and a huge name to go on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shikigami Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I don't know what it is about its about the major labels sucking at what they do and then suing you for knowing this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishy Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 You can buy the diskset instead for $80, and i'm beginning to see why they've done this: DISCBOX THIS CONSISTS OF THE NEW ALBUM, IN RAINBOWS, ON CD AND ON 2 X 12 INCH HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL RECORDS. A SECOND, ENHANCED CD CONTAINS MORE NEW SONGS, ALONG WITH DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS AND ARTWORK. THE DISCBOX ALSO INCLUDES ARTWORK AND LYRIC BOOKLETS. ALL ARE ENCASED IN A HARDBACK BOOK AND SLIPCASE. 2 vinyls, extra tracks and artwork. Not everyone is going to want to buy all that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bahamut Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Just as a note, I despise this band's music. However, for 0.95 pounds total (after their hidden 0.45 pounds credit/debit card charge), I'm willing to give this a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannthr Posted October 2, 2007 Author Share Posted October 2, 2007 The discbox is great for superfans--it feels more like what making money on art is supposed to be about: Merchandising. Artistic works for sale is almost a silly concept when you consider what art MEANS to the world has nothing to do with dollars--or at least, I don't think idealistically it should. But the discbox is like good merchandising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dhsu Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Just as a note, I despise this band's music. You just have to tell people about your bad taste in music every chance you get, don't you. However, for 0.95 pounds total (after their hidden 0.45 pounds credit/debit card charge), I'm willing to give this a try. And this is exactly why this type of marketing works. By cutting out the cost of pressing CDs, digital downloads are practically pure profit, and at the same time they get people who would never buy a CD to pay for their music. Also, the credit fee comes from the credit card companies, not them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bahamut Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 You just have to tell people about your bad taste in music every chance you get, don't you. Pssh, a lot of people have called me a music god for my vast knowledge & assessment of music across the spectrum . And this is exactly why this type of marketing works. By cutting out the cost of pressing CDs, digital downloads are practically pure profit, and at the same time they get people who would never buy a CD to pay for their music. Also, the credit fee comes from the credit card companies, not them. Well, I normally buy CDs - however, I'm willing to spend a little money for digital downloads, but only like $2-3 tops for an album unless it's unavailable in any other form. As for the credit/debit card fee - they did not tell me until the very final page, when the order was already processed. It's a bit underhanded to not prominently show it beforehand, if they even showed it at all. I was a bit peeved to only find out about the fee at the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dhsu Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Well at least we know about it now. Thanks for taking one for the team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anosou Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Just as a note, I despise this band's music. Just as a note, KILL U! anyway, I think it's genious. They know that releasing a CD will only result in it being spread like anthrax around the globe while releasing a free mp3 download (that people feel bad about and will pay) together with the optional super-pack is a smart move. Since you can't really torrent the LPs, the artwork or the super cool box they know that many fans will buy that. Giving the CD cheap to everyone else will just make the box-buyers more exclusive. Hence, more buyers. Also, I like when people give away stuff cheap. much love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PassivePretentiousness Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 seriously how can you hate radiohead unless i guess thom's voice is pretty annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sauzer Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 seriously how can you hate radiohead unless i guess thom's voice is pretty annoying. There are any number of valid reasons, come on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PassivePretentiousness Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 There are any number of valid reasons, come on. don't be so obtuse, come on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJT Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Allegedly, zircon has never listened to OK Computer all the way through, which is why I secretly hate him. Wait, what were we talking about? Oh yeah. This is what happens when an extremely popular band doesn't have/need a label anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herograw Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Pssh, a lot of people have called me a music god for my vast knowledge & assessment of music across the spectrum . There's a difference between being able to assess music and knowing whether or not it is good At least their website is more possible to navigate now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anosou Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Allegedly, zircon has never listened to OK Computer all the way through, which is why I secretly hate him. !!! Now you make ME hate him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sauzer Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 !!! now THERE'S a band Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SomeCrazyGuy Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 I haven't really heard Radiohead... Or rather, I don't remember hearing any song I remember to be attributed to Radiohead, and don't care to find out what a *nearly* free album would be like. So spoke the guy who actively enjoys listening to Russian Folk music and Chants, phear meh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannthr Posted October 3, 2007 Author Share Posted October 3, 2007 I love Zurgo!, a Romanian folk group, and I really enjoy Radiohead. Though, admittedly, they're nothing alike. It's likely you've heard at least one or two of their songs without realizing it. Not that you would've enjoyed it, but there you go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antipode Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 This is EXACTLY what any respectable artist should be doing. This makes it all about the music (instead of about marketing, desperation and profit schemes), and it really DOES make the money you receive equal to how much your music is appreciated. I've never heard of this concept before, and I love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OverCoat Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 I haven't really heard Radiohead... Or rather, I don't remember hearing any song I remember to be attributed to Radiohead, and don't care to find out what a *nearly* free album would be like. So spoke the guy who actively enjoys listening to Russian Folk music and Chants, phear meh! You've probably heard Karma Police or Idioteque on the radio Well I did. A lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannthr Posted October 3, 2007 Author Share Posted October 3, 2007 When I was watching the Congressional Subcommittee for Consumer Protection's hearing on Black Media Stereotypes, there was an ex-record-industry-sap-turned-journalist who basically mentioned during her testimony that no music artist needs a record label anymore. Tru-dat, sistah! (She's not really my sister) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wafflecake Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Pssh, a lot of people have called me a music god for my vast knowledge & assessment of music across the spectrum .Well, I normally buy CDs - however, I'm willing to spend a little money for digital downloads, but only like $2-3 tops for an album unless it's unavailable in any other form. As for the credit/debit card fee - they did not tell me until the very final page, when the order was already processed. It's a bit underhanded to not prominently show it beforehand, if they even showed it at all. I was a bit peeved to only find out about the fee at the end. If you look at the "Details" section for the download from the page where you choose what you want, you get this:"DOWNLOAD THIS CONSISTS OF THE NEW ALBUM, IN RAINBOWS. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE EXTRA MATERIAL CONTAINED IN THE DISCBOX. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE FILE DIGITALLY FROM THE 10th OCTOBER 2007. YOUR PURCHASE MAY BE SUBJECT TO A TRANSACTION FEE. THIS WILL BE SHOWN AT THE CHECKOUT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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