Hmm, so am I going to be able to buy this in stores? I’m personally not a fan of digital albums. I love almost all their older stuff (although contrary to most Radiohead fans, Kid A was probably my least favorite album), but I usually won’t bother with an album if I can’t simply walk up to HMV or CD Plus and pick it up. The entry on Wikipedia says that the downloaded version is available October 10th, but that the double CD isn’t sent out until December 3rd…which makes no sense to me. Not only the huge delay, but the fact that it’s a double CD for like 10 songs.

Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I prefer when I’m just told “in stores at such-and-such date.”

Quoting Nothingman:

… I usually won’t bother with an album if I can’t simply walk up to HMV or CD Plus and pick it up. The entry on Wikipedia says that the downloaded version is available October 10th, but that the double CD isn’t sent out until December 3rd…which makes no sense to me. Not only the huge delay, but the fact that it’s a double CD for like 10 songs.

Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I prefer when I’m just told “in stores at such-and-such date.”

Radiohead, from what I understand, is releasing this without a major label… that explains why you won’t get it through regular music stores. Secondly, the time it takes them to produce the ‘discbox’ package makes sense. The album was recently finished and it’s far easier for them to release it digitally than in hard copy format. If they were still tied to a major label it would have been december before you would have seen any version of the record.

I’m pretty sure I’d want a hard-copy of the album.. But that’s honestly just because I prefer buying CDs, putting them on my computer in WAV, and then adding the CD to my collection… I like being able to look at the artwork.. It’s more because it’s what I’m used to.
Also, for gapless albums, I still haven’t been able to properly make a burnt copy play correctly in my car..

I do really like the idea of paying what you want though.. I’m sure a few die-hard fans would pay well over what the CD is worth.. and Radiohead knows it. They also know a few people would take advantage of it and pay next to nothing.. That’s just them showing their true colors.

Sweet entry, Dale.

Well, I think I’ll wait awhile then and see how the whole thing plays out. Call me stubborn to the whole direction that the music industry is going, but I don’t like paying for music that I don’t physically possess. For me, the collection of the albums is almost as important as obtaining the music itself…I know, in a few years, people like me will be obsolete.

nigel powell is doing something similar with his latest record. but with the physical copy.

http://www.thesadsongco.com/

he was in the unbelievable truth with andy yorke and worked on andy’s new record.

so this setup with the new radiohead record may have stemmed from what nigel came up with for his record. or they came up with it together. or whatever.

interesting idea. i’ll be obviously buying a physical copy of the radiohead album, though not the 40 pound thing.

It will be interesting to see what happens to the value of the box set over the decades. If this movement takes off - say major pop artists use it as a “green thing” to promote their image - it will be known as the first. If not, it will still be a landmark moment in music history, I will buy it for that alone. I wonder how many independent record stores will stock up.

Likely the record industry’s response will be to have their “fringe” artists offer the same service with a minimum donation on iTunes. Priced somewhere around where they would have ended up settling to anyway, allowing the patron to “tip” the artist as well. Kind of like the manager at Chili’s scooping the change left on the table.

What are your thoughts on following suit, Matt? Frankly I agree with Dale, music is in the ether more than ever now. I would pay a donation for your next CD if it was only available as a download, but I’d rather buy a box set.

Re: “Radiohead would benefit from a web designer.” I actually think it would be difficult to make the “In Rainbows” site much more straightforward–and hence engaging and usable. The only significant problem I could see in ordering the “discbox” was that all text seemed to be in graphics, which did not always load (as the site is obviously taking a heavy hit tonight). This impacts accessibility, as well. But most “web designers” I know would use Flash anyway, which has the same issue; and would make the whole thing largely gratuitous and a reflection of their own training and egos. I’m no Jacob Nielsen in demanding gratuitous simplicity or unsophistication in the other direction, but I work in interaction design and usability (20 years, MSc) and I see this Radiohead site as more than satisfactory: in fact refreshing in much the same way as their new approach to selling their music.

Quoting chrisryan:

Re: “Radiohead would benefit from a web designer.” I actually think it would be difficult to make the “In Rainbows” site much more straightforward–and hence engaging and usable. The only significant problem I could see in ordering the “discbox” was that all text seemed to be in graphics, which did not always load (as the site is obviously taking a heavy hit tonight). This impacts accessibility, as well. But most “web designers” I know would use Flash anyway, which has the same issue; and would make the whole thing largely gratuitous and a reflection of their own training and egos. I’m no Jacob Nielsen in demanding gratuitous simplicity or unsophistication in the other direction, but I work in interaction design and usability (20 years, MSc) and I see this Radiohead site as more than satisfactory: in fact refreshing in much the same way as their new approach to selling their music.

As a current graphic design student, I couldn’t agree with you more chrisryan. I see a lot of students ahead of me in the stream abusing Flash (and for non-web projects, Illustrator & Photoshop).

I’d be interested to see the results. As you describe, Radiohead is not a band with a great many fair weather fans like some pop acts, so maybe they’ll succeed where other bands wouldn’t with this concept. However, I have spoken to a various people about this kind of topic in the past and written responses to posts on this site, and it seems to me that if we exclude those who will buy the hard copy (who may download as well), the result of their experiment will break down along normal lines in the whole “downloading” discussion.

A few fans may pay more than a CD normally costs. Some will pay the same as a CD usually costs, as someone stated above. Some will pay what they think a normal CD should cost, which is less than store price.

Many more will pay a very small amount, perhaps because for some (though certainly not all) they can’t afford much more.

A lot of people will not pay at all.

We live in strange times. Kids to young adults to Generation X and Y - everyone has become convinced of their “right” to download whatever they want and not have to pay for it. Somehow, because the files are perceived as intangible (magic, really…), electronic components of the ether rather than real products with value, a large portion of the population doesn’t see a problem with taking something that someone else has put a lot of effort into and not paying for it. Some of those people try to convince themselves that if they like it they will go back and pay for it, but I’m sure this is not true for a large portion of the files downloaded with this thought. Some people will go back and pay, but most will not. For some it may not even be malicious, but they simply forget after a while since the downloaded song is one file amongst thousands in their library (thousands of “trials”) and until it comes around again in a playlist or on shuffle, they will forget they even have it.

I also question the “listen before you buy” idea. This can be done in most Canadian music stores. You can grab a CD off the shelf and bring it to the listening counter to preview the album. However, there are not many other products that sell for under 20 dollars that you can do this. Sure. some expensive products allow for very brief trial periods. You can test drive a car, for example, although a 10 minute ride around the dealership area can’t be compared to listening to a track over and over to see if you like it. Most food items, small plastic crap that promises to make life easier (kitchen gadgets, utility items, etc.), plants & flowers, computer software or hardware - most stuff in fact - doesn’t let you try it before you buy it in any meaningful way.

Sure some could argue that some food items can be tried in-store if they are promoting it, but this only applies to a tiny proportion of items, and well… you have to be there on that day at the time the counter is open.

Some could also argue that many other durable products can be returned within 14 or 30 or 60 days for a refund or store credit. Yes, but so could CDs a few years ago, before some people ruined that policy for everyone by buying CDs, burning them and the returning them with no intention of ever keeping the disc. Stores caught on and canceled the policy.

What of short lived products, not intended to last forever? We can debate the merits of forgettable pop hits (such as big “summer” hits), but if you download a hit pop song and listen to it dozens of times until you’re sick of it and then decide not to buy it because you don’t like it anymore, is this your right to “try before buying”, or are you missing the whole point of the particular music product?

I have not yet decided if there has been a shift in mentality with regard to electronic downloads, or if some people always thought this way, but were only capable of it in the last 10 years with easy file downloading.

If people could “download” a car in their own home without fear of ever being caught, do you think they would? Yeah, so do I.

I’m really excited to order it, I wasn’t expecting the new album until next year. Nobody has really mentioned “Hail to the Thief” on here, which I think is one of their best.

Unfortunately the order thing keeps telling me I’m not authorized to use my own cards.. waiting to hear back from their support. Go figure.

Best of luck to them, but I’m in the camp of total loathers of all things Radiohead.

Wonder if they’d pay me for their new album :)

The only problem with liking Radiohead is every time I bring a new cd home I’m pissed off because I figure it skips. But then I listen to it a few more times and realize…

I like Hail to the Thief too. My favourite song is Scatterbrain.

I just soiled myself. I have been waiting for this for a LONG time, and the last I heard we weren’t gonna get a crack at their new album till ‘08. Matt’s my favourite solo artist, but Radiohead is by far my favourite BAND. Kid A is my favourite album of all time (Motion Picture Soundtrack is my favourite song as well). This is fucking great. Thanks for posting this Matt. I check Dead Air Space a couple times a week but I’d heard NOTHING of this.

Oh, and I HATE rainbows. They crawl up your leg and bite the inside of your ass…

This sounds really cool.

If my memory is correct, Radiohead originally signed a 6 album deal with EMI when they made Pablo Honey. After Hail to the Thief there was some discussion as to the future of Radiohead - they were no longer bound to make records together so no one was sure what would even happen to the band. I don’t know if they resigned with EMI or if they are now their own independent band. This could explain why they can release an album this way. I sometimes wonder if that’s why Kid A and Amnesiac got released as 2 albums - helped with the album count because if you took the 8 best songs off of those albums you’d have a pretty solid “popular album”.

I’m a huge Radiohead fan. I actually have something Radiohead that would be cool to have from Matt Good. I have a CD of just the rhythm sections of some of their songs with a tab book that teaches you the guitar parts. I can play along like I’m actually Jonny Greenwood with Phil Selway playing behind me.

Joe

Along with Matthew Good, Radiohead is one of my top 3 artists…

And they’re releasing their 7th album, On my 17th birthday… Except I have satellite internet, with a bandwidth limit, therefore cannot download it…

I do like the ‘pay what you think it’s worth’ thing. I’ll probably be paying $10 for it, whenever I do get it, As I think that balances out the $27 I shelled out for Hail To The Thief (Was worth it though), And I no longer have a job, so it’s all I should spend on it.

Man, that’s gonna be a good week… Radiohead releasing a new album and the possibility to see Matthew Good, My birthday…

Dammit, mp3s of Radiohead are worthless to me. Ok Computer is one a small handful of discs that I can put on, and actually feel like I got my money’s worth out of my stereo. If anything, I wish they’d release stuff in hi-def surround. The idea of listening to the new album with all those nasty mp3 compression artifacts bugs me, so I won’t be paying for that!

I hope it’ll be easy to get the physical copy in Canada.

Quoting Axtech:

I’ve preordered my download already, and paid what I usually would for a CD. For me, the discbox isn’t worth it since I’d really only want it for the second disc of B-sides (although $80 is a great price for the package, it’s not worth it for me).

I’m looking forward to seeing the reaction to this. I’m a little worried that people will simply take advantage and download it for free, resulting in this release being nothing more than an example of how artists can’t make it without a label. But I sincerely hope they pull it off and show that it really can be done.

I told my parents about this, and they really couldn’t seem to grasp the concept of being able to pay anything you want - even nothing. I tried to explain that this was kind of an experiment, more of a statement than an actual business model, but they couldn’t get past the idea that people will just choose to get it for free. I wouldn’t be surprised if most people took the same position, at least initially. That’s why I hope this works out: people will take notice and realize that there’s room for change and growth in the music industry.

There’s a couple ways of looking at this… and to make my position clear: I think that this is a great move.
For one, it’s a total shot at capitalism. BANG!
Secondly, it’s a direct support of good music. Who here is going to pay money to download Three Days Grace? Who here is going to spend money to download Dave Matthews Band? I just think the music that comes out will be more directly what we want, under this new system. Those flashy pop stars can still have their stages, but I’m tired of seeing them taking the front page - I think people are only going to spend money on supporting artists that have more than a couple shakers. That’s just a theory… but it’s what I think.
Third, of course, the record companies get given the finger, and now it’s easier for GOOD artists who are living out of their homes to support themselves.

I wouldn’t worry about losing music artists. If Matthew Good told people he had to start selling his recording equipment to eat, I think he’d get some dough pretty fast from all of us… and that way, he gets to keep doing what he loves to do. Face it - the real artists are not out there to get rich, so the “I break even every month” artist should be popularized, and I think that this system will do it.

As someone who kind of lost interest after OK Computer (look, I’m as much of a music snob as anyone, but blips and bleeps just aren’t my thing), I wasn’t really counting the days until the next Radiohead album.

But you know what, this such a healthy concept for the music industry that I may just support it regardless. And who knows? The album might actually feature a guitar or two.

I’m a true oddball where I work, as I insist on buying physical copies of CDs.

For one, I think that if a song catches my fancy on the radio, Much Music, etc, than the artist deserves a bit of money for the effort. Not to mention, half the stuff I end up buying anymore is Canadian (Barenaked Ladies, Joel Plaskett Emergancy, Sloan, some guy named Matthew Good, etc), and we all know how well off Canadian musicians are.

Not to mention, if I was to go strictly to downloads, than I would be cutting out a whole social activity from my life. At least once a week, during one of my breaks, I make the hike across the street to Cheeky Monkey to see what fun music/Brit mags they have to offer. In the process I end up chatting it up with Mary Anne and Rolland (the store owners) about whatever I just bought, etc. I’d miss that way too much.

I effin love radiohead….a very close second behind my matthew- one of the best shows i have ever seen.. whether they sell their album on a major record lable (which they will) or simply on a website for an audience decided price- i will buy it.. Thom yorke’s vocals are amazing and i must boast we share the SAME BIRTHDAY!! So happy birthday Mr. Yorke- OCT 7th ROCKS!!! Libras and creative beings..love ya!!!

He’s simply classic… who didn’t melt to “fake plastic trees”???? one of my faves!!!
oxoxoxox

As much as I want to sit here and gush about Radiohead, I won’t. I am not surprised that they’re offering “In Rainbows” in the various methods and formats that they are. This band is simply unafraid of being pioneers, both musically and in their business methods. I share the same level of repect for them as I do for Mr. Good in the way that they try to be artistically true to themselves while at the same time realistically understanding that they’re playing in the muddy waters of art and business. When you’re driven by substance instead of record sales, the rules of supply and demand economics are nothing but an annoyance to be painstakingly dealt with.

Some artists, our website host included, have truly reached the threshold of fan loyalty when they could release a CD with 12 versions of “Happy Birthday” on it and there’d still be people outside the record store, on the release date, waiting for an employee to unlock the doors.

I’m seriously interested in watching how this plays out. I’ll watch while I happily listen to my downloaded version of “In Rainbows” on the day before I get to see Matt Good hide nothing with his guitar at the Marquee in Halifax.

The end of next week is going to be very, very good for me.

P.S. The music of Radiohead introduced me to the brilliance of Stanley Donwood, who does the artwork for most of Radiohead’s CD’s. His brain is made of some very strange wiring and his writing is disturbingly ridiculous. Check him out…

http://www.slowlydownward.com

if record labels can’t get you played on the radio (i assume this album won’t get much air play at all), and If you can record an album of fairly high quality in your bedroom, and then distribute it for free over the internet, then what purpose do record companies serve? none what so ever.

fuck the majors, generation indie rock is upon us.

The concept is amazing but the album is a let down I purchased a copy from my local music store. I not feeling the Radiohead vibe this time around. Hospital Music was a way better bang for the buck. Although I am displeased with In Rainbows I am glad I have supported Radiheads concept of “pick your own price” Digital music does not have the same meaning as an LP (the physical media). An LP has so much more meaning. I think vinyls should come back or CDs should stay the dominant platform for music. My hunch to Digital music is over consumption of MP3 even if the songs are hot or not. Only talented musicians should be paid and musicians who create a buzz or ride the wave should stoned to death. I was watching SNL or something the other day and this emo band was on stage rolling around and jumping all over the place the music was awful and so what the performance. The band looked foolish, non of them knew what was going on. Last night JLo was on the Tonight Show or some other celebrity enforcing media program. What is with the dancing? I would like to see an artist just stand on stage and play music or sing, no lights, no dancing. A man and his guitar, perhaps? Oh yes, Matthew Good does that! I almost for got where I was. Where has my head gone! In short Radiohead is cool but save your money, Buy a second copy of Hospital Music over In Rainbows. Dale keep up the excellent work, Thanks.