Radiohead Will Let Fans Set Price of Downloads: It appears that Radiohead have chosen to self release their new record via their website. You can pre-order it from their website right now as a download or a “discbox”. If you decide to download only, you can pay whatever you like. There is no set price. Someone could pay 50 dollars or 10 cents. Imagine walking into a car dealership where the consumer determines the price for a car? Now that is a utopian world. This story is running rampant on the internet as Radiohead always knew how to generate press.
The iPod Nano commercial Boost Sales for Feist: The commercial which features the Feist video for “1234.” pushed the single to #4 on the national iTunes chart and the album all the way up to #6. Physical sales are already at 200k.
To anyone who’s still reading or buying Rolling Stone Magazine: It’s time to boycott Jann Wenner’s flagship magazine says Fox’s Roger Friedman. Friedman calls out Hit publisher Wenner, who controls the Rock Hall of Fame. Wenner’s nominating committee consists largely of his current and former employees from Rolling Stone. Friedman suggests that nominees including Madonna, the Beastie Boys, Donna Summer, and Chic are not even close to rock n roll. Does anyone really take the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame seriously anymore?
On October 2, San Francisco’s indie radio darlings, Magic Bullets , will be performing with Perry Farrell’s Satellite Party at a private event curated by Spin Magazine, John Varvatos and GenArt to benefit VH1’s Save The Music campaign. The event will take place at Bloomingdale’s and will include a silent auction featuring collector’s edition photographs of John Varvatos’ iconic rock and roll ad campaign. Limited VIP guest list spots available – contact Rob Wells or Chris Castle for more information.
Check out the column “Has free music become a listener’s birthright“? that discusses how indie labels deal with the economics of new records getting leaked prematurely on the Internet.
YeboTV is betting on a belief that you can still reach fans in record stores: The site approached Fords, N.J., independent record store Vintage Vinyl with an idea that entertains musicians’ in-store performances streamed live to YeboTV’s site. “Retail has always provided organic marketing to consumers,” YeboTV vice president of music development Cheryl Shaver said. “Now, we are using new technology to build on that.”
It certainly is fascinating to watch the Radiohead launch, the hype machine surrounding their music, and the success that will assuredly come their way. I have a problem with people who say new pricing models like this are the future of the music business as a whole, however. There are precious few bands and artists who can demand this type of attention and Radiohead should probably make out quite well financially asking their (rabid) fans for whatever they feel like paying. But this fan base was built, in part, by a sustained and significant label effort… to think that young upstart artists will be able to copy this business model for their next indie release is too simplistic. (Not saying you were advocating that point of view, just sending up a cautionary flag.)
The radiohead pricing scheme makes no sense. Its more about press than a logical pricing plan. Imagine Apple CEO Steve Jobs allowing consumers to dictate the price for an iPhone?
In my opinion, this press is a bit cheezy and childish. Regardless, Radiohead has the fanbase and they will do well in ticket sales..
koar, with respect, music is free already — iPhones are not.
well only a band that is already succesful could do this but if a new band unsigned did this no one would care no matter how good the band was.
Fans dictate the price? hmmmm..ok
I will make a bet the fans steal it!
You can enter 0$
This is brilliant! It goes next to Trent Reznor asking fans to steal his album!
Again .. brilliant!
I’m not a huge fan of Radiohead. I’d never buy an album in a store. I promise you that i’ll fetch 5$ for a digital copy. I agree that this model isn’t for every band but it’s perfect for Radiohead. Their core fans will buy the “discbox”. They will want a physical copy of this thing. Casual fans will give a couple bucks. Curious people will download it for free and if they like it .. they’ll buy a ticket to their next show.
Radiohead has the financial welly and is sufficiently well-known to be confident enough that the move is a risk worth taking, but it might also become an answer for those lesser known bands that struggle to be signed by a record label, or are reluctant to share their profits.
Radiohead announced 21 tour dates in London, all of which sold out.
Also – Free albums also drive demand for live tours, which translate to pound signs for the artists behind them. A great example of this is Prince, who in July gave away his album 3121 for free in the UK through the Daily Mail.
To Burst Labs.
You are 100% Correct. It’s a brilliant move for a band with such an established fan base. For those not getting it, It wouldn’t hurt the band one bit if EVERYONE downloaded it for free. That’s not the point. It’s strickly a marketing ploy, and I have to say that it’s brilliant! Their fans will think they care, even if they don’t, meaning that it will form such an immediate bias on it’s listeners that it really only has to be half as good as KID A to demand the same respect… which in turn… will result in ticket sales…. where artists make their real money.
5 Kudos to a band that I haven’t really enjoyed in 5 or 6 years. Brilliant.
According to Reuters the discbox had so far proved the more popular.
“well only a band that is already succesful could do this but if a new band unsigned did this no one would care no matter how good the band was.”
This has been done before with an unsigned artists and garnered a little press. But because she was indy.. I can’t for the life of me recall who it was…
I’m thinking about using this method for my personal cd release as a test…
There is a 40 or 50 pence fee, per album download. I don’t know how much that is in U.S. dollars but I’m sure the band see’s some of that.
It’s a good move by the band and it will definitely drive up sales of their box set.
And there will be a few crazy fans that will charge themselves more than the normal price of an album.
The only thing this hurts them with is SoundScan numbers. The album won’t make the charts.
Jane Siberry is the Canadian artists who has been using this method for a while now!!!
NME.com did a survey with fans who are going to buy the new Radiohead CD. The average price fans will pay is 5 pounds. Add the 40-pence fee and the total comes to $11.02 with the current exchange rate.
Radiohead will make out like bandits. Plus, it’ll drive up their box set that’s going for over $80.
Smart move!
Tim ..
Since when SoundScan numbers matter to a band like Radiohead?
I’ve been listening to Magic Bullets for a few months now and I adore their songs. Thank you for mentioning them.
Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame? More like the “Cock -in- Hole of Shame” They Still haven’t inducted DEEP PURPLE,
But they inducted the Stooges! I think their a bunch of Fucking Stooges!! JUST MORE OF THAT STRIVE FOR MEDIOCRE!!
Tell the Seattle Times that “real music fans” DON’T STEAL MUSIC! They buy it, to support their favorite Artist and Music Culture!! Also, how is that labels “have to watch how hard they come down on illegal downloaders” This is the kind of verbal phrasing that “helps” these losers (illegal downloaders) feel that “maybe what their doing isn’t so bad!!” The opperative word being “illegal”
PS. I visited the SEATTLE (HIPOCRIT) TIMES WEBSITE
IT’S NOT FREE!! Wonder what would happen if people started illegally downloading their paper?!!
Maybe they’d switch to an ad revenue based model & capitalize on the interest, Michael. Isn’t that the New York Times has done? Isn’t that where the Wall Street Journal is going?
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/09/18/wall-street-journal-will-likely-dump-paid-service/
There’s more to business than “This is what I want to make, this is how I want to distribute it, & this is what I want people to pay me for it.”
Then again, simple thoughts from a simple man, right?
You may want to keep your rantings private in the future.
I mean, really… you’ve gotta love those industries that adapt to what consumers want. I mean… right? Don’t you? Or I guess they could just sue everyone. A couple hundred thousand dollars for a 42 issues sounds about right to me.
Hey Jon Cole when don’t you go and work really hard to create something and then give it away for free. Lead by example!! Yeah simple men, like the ones who started
the biggest companies in the world by thinking:
1.) “This is what i want to make” thats a pretty good start KNOWING WHAT IT IS YOUR GOING TO CREATE, INVENT!
2.) “This is who i’d like to sell it” Um, lets see, after inventing your product deciding on how you’d like it represented, how much you think it’s worth!
Seems to me like that’s pretty much the start of things unless of course your Jon Cole. sounds like you have to complicate tying your shoes every morning!!
Yeah, lets sell CD’s inside Newspapers!!
What came first Electicity or the Toaster?
What came first the phone or the Phone bill?
What came first the car or driver?
you think Franklin,Ford,or Bell went around asking people what they needed or what they wanted to pay?
Too Simple for you right?
the way you talk you’d think people went around asking for phones, cars, electrical appliances before they where even invented!! Music like Cars, Phones and other great ideas belong solely to the people who invented/created them! To do so as they please and not how some NEWSPAPER thinks they should. SOCIALIST BULLSHIT ARTISTS!!
Also, no matter how ludicris your suggestions, i would never suggest you keep silent. i’m sure one day, you’ll have something of value to say, i dont have the slightest idea when,or what it may be but I’ll keep hoping!!