Horns

Earlier this week one of the world's biggest rock bands, and a personal favorite here at JLPFL, dropped a giant fucking bombshell on fans, pop writers, and especially music labels. Radiohead casually announced that their much anticipated new album, now entitled In Rainbows, would be coming out very, very soon (Oct. 10, where previous reports had the release date somewhere around March '08), and, oh by the way, they are releasing it on their own, sans label. Like, Oh My Gawd, labels... Booyah!

Most of the immediate news reports focused on the pricing scheme (or lack there of) that Radiohead decided to use for the download-only version of In Rainbows (you can pay any price you would like for the music; yep, you read that right), which is interesting and all that, but the much much bigger deal is Radiohead, whose last album (the brilliant Hail to the Thief) satisfied its contract with EMI, has taken a giant leap for music-kind by taking steps to release a new album completely free of the major label system.

Many, many other rock outfits have done a similar thing (eg. Wilco, after Sony totally fucked the pooch on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, sold directly to the public via their website for a while before picking up another label, and of course so has Bright Eyes/Saddle Creek, Ani DiFranco, etc.), but none of them have done it from the platform of the "world's biggest rock band." Potentially this is a huge development in the music world, dragging the labels kicking and screaming into an entirely new condition in which they will not be able to control and restrict the flow of art/commerce between bands and fans. Even if I wasn't a creative person struggling with middle man issues, I would still think this is a pretty fucking cool experiment.

So what is going to happen? Well, Radiohead are going to sell millions of albums, mostly DRM-free download only (though I've already pre-ordered the limited edition disc box which comes with a gatefold LP, artwork, CD, as well as the download privileges), and make a shit ton of money that is completely theirs. With so much money why would the band even want to get a label or distributor on board to help with logistics for their (most likely) upcoming tour. Why after the huge success of the experiment would they not keep going down this path? And if they do why would other important bands not follow them? And if that all happens, labels, rightfully, are fucked.

Or... this could all be a sort of pre-leak of the album by Radiohead (because the leak was inevitable anyway, why not control it?) in anticipation of the regular album release by a yet-to-be-named label early next year whose new contract and awesome sum of money will ensure that none of the band members or their brothers, mothers, cousins, or neighbors will ever go even the slightest bit peckish from hunger. This could be the exact same condition, but I'd prefer that my favorite band is willing to play the part of crusader. Who else has the opportunity to do so and make it matter?!

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Comments (5)

I'm with you on that last paragraph. Apparently, there will be a store release by next year, but everyone in radioheadfanland is betting on just a distribution deal.

Also, it was funny to see the main Radiohead message board crash within hours from the announcement. With a record this anticipated, this is possibly the best move they could have gone for.

I have an idea. Instead of seeing them play some hideous venue in south florida again.....we should go see them in......Scotland?

BTW.......Jen wants these records out of here. If you think the FL funk CD was good, wait till you see what's in this box. Please keep them......at least till we get a bigger place and a new lo-fi :)

Michael Radio Heads last album was; "The Eraser." Can hardly wait
for the new material//nice picture of your little bro playing piano//now
all you have to do is use the speedgraphic 4x5 !!

Mr.Loomis: all apologies "The Eraser;" is Thome York not RH.

Mr.Loomis: all apologies "The Eraser;" is Thome York not RH. i stand corrected.

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