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October 2, 2007

music

Radiohead goes it alone, let’s you choose the price

Posted Oct. 2, ’07, 7:44 AM PT by Derik DeLong
Category | Music

Radiohead Honestly, I don’t know why this doesn’t happen more often. Radiohead has decided to forgo the normal online music stores and offer their latest album’s music through their own website. I suppose the reluctance to go DRM free has been a blocking factor for offering music on their own, but it’s really a natural. Now, you can get the music in two packages.

The very cool discbox set contains two 12” vinyl records (groovy man), a album CD, an enhanced CD, digital photographs, and artwork. It costs a mere £40 ($81.60 US). On the other hand, you can get the music DRM free for a price you specify (as low as £.01, or $0.02). You set the price to what it’s worth. I’m interested in their new album, so I’m sure I’ll kick a few bucks their way.

While I’m not sure the pay-what-you-think-it’s-worth part of this strategy will catch fire in the industry, I can see bands selling their music DRM free on their own websites becoming a really compelling new business model.


5 Comments

anonymous said:

damn the man! save the empire!

October 2, 2007 8:13 AM
krye said:

How are they allowed to do that?

I thought once you sold your soul to the record label, they owned your music. You can't sell it at whatever price you want on your own. Right?

October 2, 2007 8:17 AM
Paul Capewell said:

Only a minor niggle, but the minimum price is actually nothing at all. Really interesting concept though!

October 2, 2007 8:38 AM
James "Macaroon" Nightingale said:

I think it's a little naïve to think that this will become massively popular - I believe this is Radiohead's "funk you" to the record industry, being a band that can afford to potentially give away their music. I was disgusted when Paul McCartney didn't just give away his latest album to be honest, a man worth at least £500,000,000 - why isn't he just happy to be making the music? He doesn't need to make money from it. Smaller bands however do, of course - so while they are locked into record contract for financial security their labels will never let them sell their music DRM free, on their own site, the label will want all crontrol. The advantage to Radiohead of course, is that they'll clean up with the money, as they won't have to pay too much for overheads. It is a fantastic idea from Radiohead, but doens't seem too feasible for bands on the cusp of the industry.

October 2, 2007 9:09 AM
Eduardo said:

Alright Radiohead!!!

What a great move; now here is band that really follows what they preach. I've already ordered their $81.00 Discbox which seems like great way to get diehard consumers and fanatics to part with their money.

Some of you may scuff at the Discbox price; but it appears like a bargain to me.

October 2, 2007 12:33 PM

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