Radiohead have fired a shot across the bow of the record industry by making their upcoming record, “In Rainbows” available for download for any price that the consumer chooses. “No really, it’s up to you,” the band’s website reassures the fan who is unsure how much to pay for the download. The band’s use of the honor system has produced a cottage industry of articles predicting the End Of The Record Industry As We Know It (EOTRIAWKI) or confessing how much one paid for the download.
Apparently, one third of listeners paid nothing for the download. If the RIAA had their way, these people would be sued for $220,000. But, on average, fans have paid about $8 for a download that – like all records – could be had for free. Me, I paid one pound, 45 pence – about three American dollars. It’s more than I’ve ever paid for Radiohead’s music (a telltale sign of EOTRIAWKI). Perhaps I’ve been too turned off by their hype as the band that will kill guitars and rock-n-roll, but my entire Radiohead collection consisted of an illegal download of the song, “Karma Police” until now.
Lost in the hubbub is the fact that “In Rainbows” is a terrific record. The usually ponderous ballads featuring Thom Yorke’s wailing sound haunting and mesmerizing spaced out in between propulsive rockers like “Bodysnatchers” and “Jigsaw Falling Into Place.” Knowing this in advance, I’d have gladly paid eight dollars for the joy of owning the record.
Radiohead kicks ass, that’s why.