New Radiohead album: My price Oct11 '07

Radiohead are no longer part of any major record label. Their latest album, In Rainbows, is being distributed over the web at an asking price of... well... whatever you want to pay.

That's right. You name the price. Whatever the music is worth to you, go ahead and pay that. If it's worth nothing to you, pay nothing.

How can this be, you wonder? Well, for one thing, Radiohead has been fighting with record labels since the early 90's, so it's no surprise they've completely abandoned having any kind of representation. And... they've sold millions of records, so this being their 7th studio album, they can afford to experiment a little.

This is not an uncommon thing they are doing. In today's world of instant file sharing, internet leaks, and corporate choke-holds, many bands are relieving the strain by setting off on their own (Nine Inch Nails also recently announced their departure from a label). This is the same trend occuring in the movie industry.

Bands are wanting a more comfortable and controllable relationship with their fans, without having to deal with the "corporate middleman."

My price

Before I mention how much I paid, please understand one thing. I've been listening to Radiohead since the days of The Bends and OK Computer, and I've always had an affection for their work. In fact, if you're just getting into Radiohead, you're best bet is to start with their early, guitar-riff stuff from the mid-90's. You'll get a feel for Thom Yorke's vocals, which play the most important role in all Radiohead songs.

My point is I have absolutely no problem paying for their albums. In fact, when Amnesiac came out in 2001, I purposely bought two of them, just because. I felt that the $11.99 price tag on Amnesiac was just not enough for what I was receiving. All the built-up anticipation for the album - on that day I was just so excited to finally receive it, I didn't care what the price was.

I downloaded In Rainbows for $17. Yep, I paid $17 when I could have paid absolutely nothing. Considering most albums sell anywhere from $9 - $15, having paid $17 still seems a little steep, especially since I had a choice. And, there is no liner notes, nor is the sound quality that spectacular, coming in at a dismal 160 kbps.

Still, I paid $17. Why, you wonder? Because this is what I felt the album is worth, based on my experience with listening and interacting with Radiohead music in the past.

In a sense, you're paying for a work of art. You should pay whatever you think it's worth. No price is foolish.

Categories: Money , Music , Trends

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Was it money well spent in this particular issue? I will buy it regardless (being a member of the Swedish Pirate Party I support most initiatives t ... Read more.

matthom is published and produced by Matt Thommes - an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from Chicago. Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.

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