There are a lot of reasons why Radiohead’s sudden announcement that In Rainbows, the band’s first album in four years, is coming out Oct. 10 is a smart business move. For one thing, giving fans just 10 days of notice may help foil pirates. For another, the multi-format, box-of-goodies approach (Billboard explains the details here) is a good way for a band with no label to make a big splash in the marketplace. But what will raise the most eyebrows is the museum-pricing of In Rainbows: that is, pay what you think it’s worth. Some will be tempted to pay nothing, of course, but many fans may choose to reward the band by paying something approaching a fair retail price.
Tell me, PopWatchers: how much would you pay? And would this work for a band with a less established and devoted following than Radiohead?
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I don’t know how well it would work for other bands but it’s a great idea.
For a Radiohead album, I’d pay a lot.
5 Bucks, the price of a street mix CD. Once I download it and love it, though, I’ll be buying the big ol’ set.
I’d pay full price retail. When I was in college, I would have paid $5.
(In the words of Cake “How do you afford your rock and roll lifestyle?”)
I’ll pay around 10-12 bucks (I’m broke right now or else I’d pay more). I love Radiohead so I want to give something back.
If I was rich, I would be tempted to pay some ridiculous sum, just to support this idea. As it is, I would pay somewhere between $5-10. I definitely wouldn’t stiff them, because this is a great idea that has the potential to revolutionize the music distribution business model. It’s great, because it offers an alternative to people are stuck between having to pay sometimes exorbitant prices for CDs and being able to get that music for free, easily. And it’s an excellent way for music to spread. If I had the opportunity, for example, to listen to an album by Liars for as little as a quarter, I would definitely be willing to do so. And who knows, maybe I become a big new Liars fan, and when their next one comes out I pay $8 for it. It’s an innovative way to reach out to music fans who have become alienated by expensive music, and I would love to see it become the norm in a few year’s time.
I am kind of disappointed though to read that in 2008 In Rainbows will be released in a more conventional fashion. If this online digital distribution thing doesn’t quite pan out and the actual retail CD is a huge hit, it could doom this experiment to the dark alleys of Steven Soderbergh’s Bubble release strategy.
I’m paying full retail price because it is Radiohead and they are the best freaking band. Period. It’s a great idea from a groundbreaking band. It makes perfect sense. I don’t think many other bands could/would do this and expect to pull in any profits.
I’ll probably download it and pay $10, but also buy the disc next year because of my fondness for liner notes.
10 dollars but it has to be as good as The Bends. I never cared for Kid A.
i think it is a great idea allowing the buyer to choose the price. obviously, a lot are going to just take it for free, but i would hope one would be more inclined to pay a few bucks. it’s better than paying $20. hope this strategy works.
Curse you, Radiohead. I love you, but jeez. I only have internet access at work. No downloads for me. So . . . I would have happily, joyously, rapturously paid 15-20$ for this long awaited treat. But now, I’ll pay nothing. And when the “real” edition comes out with all its bells and whistles for 40$, I probably won’t buy it then, either. Poo.
I’ll just wait for the package. I like liner notes too much. As for less successful bands trying it, local acts do it all the time. Myspace anyone?
I bought it – paid 5 pounds, with a .45 pound fee, so it came to around $11.13, based on current exchange rates. That’s about what I’d pay at iTunes for it, if it were available, so I’m cool.
I’d probably pay about $10 for this. It’s what I generally pay for my used CDs now anyways, also comparable to the iTunes price.
I contributed $5. Can hardly wait!
I’ve tried and tried to listen to Radiohead, but I just don’t get it. I feel like the emperor’s walking down the street in his new clothes and nobody notices.
BRITTNEY LOST CUSDOTY OF HER KIDS!
Radiohead is my favorite band, so I’d pay the normal $10 or so. Also, I’m not sure this would work for a band or act that is less established.
This type of thing has been very sucessful for some lesser known acts. For instance, Jonathan Coulton offers most of his music both for free and for purchase, and plenty of his fans chose to purchase the music. Also, Songslide.com is a website dedicated to selling music from independent artists and all of the music is “pick your own price.” In fact, it may work better for acts with a small, loyal following, because fans realize that their purchases are the only thing that allows for an artist to keep on making music. If you don’t spend the money, you are screwing over an artist you like, rather than just a nameless record company.
I pre-ordered the downloading of this album for about 3.00 dollars. Can’t wait to hear it. it’s gonna be amazing.
Record labels should crumble. Musicians should be freed.
Give your money straight to the source. Pirate and Donate.
I won’t pay anything for it. I haven’t paid for music in years. Why start now? I’ll simply ride the coattails of all the people that will inevitably fork over $100 so they can brag to their friends about how they’re supporting the arts.
I only paid a pound mainly because I’m broke (Yes, even after pay day. Rent can be a dangerous thing), however Radiohead states they’re doing a ‘traditional’ cd release in early 2008, so I’m buying the hell out of that when it comes out, and maybe also the LP if I can get my record player to work by then and if the combined price of that and the cd is less than 80 damn bucks. No offense, Radiohead, but I’m not used to paying in pounds. Now, if it was 80 bucks for floor seats to one of your shows, I sees that happenin’.
Clarification: Only the download is pay what you will. The box set with vinyl and two CDs is 40 pounds or approx. $80. I’m somewhat disappointed in the steep price for the box set, as I do want the songs on the bonus second CD as well but am unwilling right now to pay $80, especially since vinyl is useless to me.
But I happily chose to pay 5 pounds + the .45 pound transaction fee (about $11) for the album and am eagerly waiting for the 10th. I think Radiohead was absolutely determined to prevent all advance leaks of the album and chose this method to avoid it – while still letting people pay what they will. I think it’s a fabulous idea. Now for an unknown album, I want a free stream or I’ll only pay a few bucks to try it out. But as much as I love Radiohead and the live versions of some of these songs, I’ll gladly give them full price for the album. And buy it again on CD in 2008. Hopefully they’ll make CD 2 available as well.
I’m with furry_tom…I’ll download it now for $10, but still buy the CD when it comes out. Because that’s how much I lurv them. Alm034, don’t give up on Radiohead right away – it often takes a while to get into their stuff. It only took me 3 years after my first exposure to “Pablo Honey”!
I’ll pay about $5 for the download, though I’m pretty sure I’ll end up buying it on CD later on.
I hope that the 2nd CD is going to be available without having to buy the $80 set, since “Four Minute Warning” was my favorite of the new songs that they played on tour last year.
I would get it but i have no idea if i can put it into itunes and then my ipod. I went to there website but it does not mention if i can do it. Also i dont like giving out my credit card to a company that i never heard off so i guess i wait until next year.
The saga continues here:
http://www.ateaseweb.com/mb/index.php?showtopic=235019117
I am seriously contemplating the box set. When you break it down, it’s something like this:
-The cd and all of the b-sides on the bonus disc could easily come to $25-30
-The vinyls would most likely range from $30-40
-The special artwork book would most likely come to $15-20
-and, finally, shipping from the UK (which is included in the $80) would usually run for around $10
This comes to a total of $80-100. Rather than buying this stuff over a few months, it might be worth getting all at once. And, besides, it’ll make one hell of a Christmas gift to myself.
I’ll get it for free, download it onto CD, and then throw it as far as I can. Radiohead is one the most over-rated, self-important bands in history.