Radiohead Actually *Gets* Digital Distribution

[DaMadFiddler]

This is really cool.

As the first bits of smoke are starting to billow out from the long-aflame antique that is the RIAA, it looks like some artists are starting to realize what actually works in the modern era, and bypass the methods of their stuck-in-the-past labels.

Latest example: Radiohead.

Their latest album will be available in two formats: digital download, and physical "discbox."

The digital download is an entirely name-your-own-price affair (no word on whether "0" works...), where you can order it and pay any price you want for the downloadable files.

The real money is in the physical sales, and they're being smart about that too. The discbox (as they're calling it) has a rather hefty, fixed price, but it comes with a LOT: the album on CD, the album on vinyl, an additional EP, art prints and other memorabilia, and digital download rights so you can listen to it while you're waiting for the physical shipment to arrive.

...The very beginnings are there for the shift away from the large-label business model, to a more individual system. The next few years should be very interesting.

[butters]

For every progressive band like this, there are 100 regressive bands like Metallica. Don't get your hopes up.

[Thomas]

I think the main reason they are doing this is because they are no longer on a label, and are put this all out on their own.

[|darc|]

I don't really like Radiohead much besides "Creep" but I'll give em a few dollars.

[TyBO]

I think the main reason they are doing this is because they are no longer on a label, and are put this all out on their own.

Radiohead could definitely get signed again if they wanted to. They're guaranteed to sell enough copies of a new album to please any record label. I think this is more of a "f*** the music industry" move.

[Covar]

The real money is in the physical sales, and they're being smart about that too

i thought the real money was in tours?

[JKKDARK]

I think the main reason they are doing this is because they are no longer on a label, and are put this all out on their own.

Radiohead could definitely get signed again if they wanted to. They're guaranteed to sell enough copies of a new album to please any record label. I think this is more of a "f*** the music industry" move.

I always thought Radiohead was underrated. Other Alternative Rock bands get better sales than Radiohead, that's why this band can't get a good major label with big support to them.

[Thomas]

I think the main reason they are doing this is because they are no longer on a label, and are put this all out on their own.

Radiohead could definitely get signed again if they wanted to. They're guaranteed to sell enough copies of a new album to please any record label. I think this is more of a "f*** the music industry" move.

I always thought Radiohead was underrated. Other Alternative Rock bands get better sales than Radiohead, that's why this band can't get a good major label with big support to them.

They were on a major label for years, and left.

[Quzar]

The box sounds awesome. Reminds me of some random group who put out a vinyl that came with, among other things a usb drive with the same stuff in digital form.

[S. Thompson]

I think the main reason they are doing this is because they are no longer on a label, and are put this all out on their own.

Radiohead could definitely get signed again if they wanted to. They're guaranteed to sell enough copies of a new album to please any record label. I think this is more of a "f*** the music industry" move.

I always thought Radiohead was underrated. Other Alternative Rock bands get better sales than Radiohead, that's why this band can't get a good major label with big support to them.

I've always found them overrated in the grand scheme of things. I love them to death - but I think the majority of people that love them seem to based on Paranoid Android or Karma Police... maybe Creep. Does that logic make sense? They're overrated for the "hits," but people that overrate them don't "get it."

Jeez - I'm an idiot. Ignore me.

- Fuzmeister

[Deth2k7]

This is a pretty neat idea, but I hate Radiohead. So, I'll pass on it.

[Smurph]

For every progressive band like this, there are 100 regressive bands like Metallica. Don't get your hopes up.

Metallica doesn't really care, their label just put them up to it. Most bands are like that. What do they care? They're rich. Granted, not as rich as they're making their labels.

[jaredfogle]

I don't really dig Radiohead, but this is very cool.

[|darc|]

They're rich.

No they aren't. Well, maybe Metallica, but not most bands.

[S. Thompson]

Almost time...

- Fuzmeister

[politoe]

Wow. I'm going to pick up the tangible version and download the album for a cent if possible. By any chance anyone knows if its DRM protected?

[Calavera]

Wow. I'm going to pick it the tangible version up and download for a cent. By any chance anyone knows if its DRM protected?

x2

[politoe]

87 cents

and from the email:

YOUR UNIQUE ACTIVATION CODE(S) WILL BE SENT OUT LATER THIS MORNING 10th OCT(UK TIME).
THIS CODE/LINK WILL TAKE YOU STRAIGHT TO THE DOWNLOAD AREA.

HERE IS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOWNLOAD:

THE ALBUM WILL COME AS A 48.4MB ZIP FILE CONTAINING 10 X 160KBPS DRM FREE MP3s.

MOST COMPUTERS NOW HAVE ZIP SOFTWARE AS PART OF THE OPERATING SYSTEM; IF YOUR COMPUTER DOES NOT, YOU NEED TO GET WINZIP OR ZIPIT INSTALLED PRIOR.

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THEM HERE:
PC: http://www.winzip.com/
MAC: http://www.maczipit.com/

I wonder if paying more will get you a higher bitrate download.

[Ex-Cyber]

MOST COMPUTERS NOW HAVE ZIP SOFTWARE AS PART OF THE OPERATING SYSTEM; IF YOUR COMPUTER DOES NOT, YOU NEED TO GET WINZIP OR ZIPIT INSTALLED PRIOR.

Ugh. I'm tired of people acting like WinZip is the only Zip software on Windows. It's mostly a cartoony wrapper around stuff that free programs can do just fine.

[politoe]

Got it. Will be listening tomorrow