Radiohead.

[Estranged Reality]

There was another thread last night about Radiohead releasing their album in ten days, and how if Radiohead can do this, GN'R can too. It was a hoax, and the thread was locked.

However, Radiohead today announced on their official website that on October 10th, the full album will be available for download from their website - and only from their website.

http://www.inrainbows.com

It's kind of weird how the countdown was a hoax but it turns out that they're planning pretty much the same thing anyway. Apparently the band is no longer on a major label, and so they are offering the album only through their official site, and not through retail outlets. It would be impossible to put it out in ten days on a label, but I guess through their website it can be done.

Do you think Axl could/should try this? I'd be all for it. It would be a way to get it out this year, which is all I care about.

[Spoon87]

No. I want a CD, something solid, not just another download.

[browser]

No, Axl can't do this because he doesn't have the momentum of Radiohead.

The only thing Radiohead and GNR have in common is that they are mythical bands.

But Radiohead has been releasing records the last 10 years. GNR has not.

Keep in mind, some Radiohead songs have been in the works for YEEEEEARS.

Just because they are written, they aren't released. They play new songs at shows till

they are ready to record the songs. GNR doesn't seem to do this too much.

And GNR plays large arenas with seats avaliable. Radiohead plays small scenes that

are PACKED!!! and finding a ticket is near impossible.

Radiohead is a band in demand. GNR is not.

To most people GNR is just an Axl band. And the people who will buy Chinese Democracy

are gonna be people who want it in disc format. Cus they are by now, considered older people.

But if ChiDem does well, and GNR gains momentum again. Yes, they can release it like this.

Then again, Axl has some money to make up for in terms of his recording budget....

the staggering, what... 15 million now?

[highway blues]

if you work for 10 years on an album , and are putting your legacy on the line , i doubt you wana market your product through a market wich only holds 20% of the whole music retail.

This thing needs a proper release and promotion.

[santana]

No. I want a CD, something solid, not just another download.

Exactly.

I want a booklet with artwork, lyrics, liner notes, and pics of the band.

A website download isn't going to cut it.

[Randy Lahey]

I think all that would do is encourage illegal downloading. Hell, I'd illegally download it and then wait for it to come out on CD before buying it.

Check this article out guys. I'm fucking shocked!!!!!!

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1666973,00.html

Radiohead Says: Pay What You Want

Monday, Oct. 01, 2007 By JOSH TYRANGIEL Thom Yorke of Radiohead performs in Chelmsford, England, August 19, 2006

Jo Hale/Getty Images

Article ToolsPrintEmailSphereAddThisRSS Roughly 12,000 albums are released in an average year, so the announcement late Sunday night that the new Radiohead record, In Rainbows, will be out Oct. 10 is not itself big news. Sure, Radiohead is on a sustained run as the most interesting and innovative band in rock, but what makes In Rainbows important — easily the most important release in the recent history of the music business — are its record label and its retail price: there is none, and there is none.

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In Rainbows will be released as a digital download available only via the band's web site, Radiohead.com. There's no label or distribution partner to cut into the band's profits — but then there may not be any profits. Drop In Rainbows' 15 songs into the on-line checkout basket and a question mark pops up where the price would normally be. Click it, and the prompt "It's Up To You" appears. Click again and it refreshes with the words "It's Really Up To You" — and really, it is. It's the first major album whose price is determined by what individual consumers want to pay for it. And it's perfectly acceptable to pay nothing at all.

Radiohead's contract with EMI/Capitol expired after its last record, Hail to the Thief, was released in 2003; shortly before the band started writing new songs, singer Thom Yorke told TIME, "I like the people at our record company, but the time is at hand when you have to ask why anyone needs one. And, yes, it probably would give us some perverse pleasure to say 'F___ you' to this decaying business model." On Sunday night, guitarist Jonny Greenwood took to Radiohead's Dead Air Space blog and nonchalantly announced, "Hello everyone. Well, the new album is finished, and it's coming out in 10 days. We've called it In Rainbows. Love from us all."

While many industry observers speculated that Radiohead might go off-label for its seventh album, it was presumed the band would at least rely on Apple's iTunes or United Kingdom-based online music store 7digital for distribution. Few suspected the band members had the ambition (or the server capacity) to put an album out on their own. The final decision was apparently made just a few weeks ago, and, when informed of the news on Sunday, several record executives admitted that, despite the rumors, they were stunned. "This feels like yet another death knell," emailed an A&R executive at a major European label. "If the best band in the world doesn't want a part of us, I'm not sure what's left for this business."

Labels can still be influential and profitable by focusing on younger acts that need their muscle to get radio play and placement in record stores — but only if the music itself remains a saleable commodity. "That's the interesting part of all this," says a producer who works primarily with American rap artists. "Radiohead is the best band in the world; if you can pay whatever you want for music by the best band in the world, why would you pay $13 dollars or $.99 cents for music by somebody less talented? Once you open that door and start giving music away legally, I'm not sure there's any going back."

The ramifications of Radiohead's pay-what-you-want experiment will take time to sort out, but for established artists at least, turning what was once their highest value asset — a much buzzed-about new album — into a loss leader may be the wave of the future. Even under the most lucrative record deals, the ones reserved for repeat, multi-platinum superstars, the artists can end up with less than 30% of overall sales revenue (which often is then split among several band members). Meanwhile, as record sales decline, the concert business is booming. In July, Prince gave away his album 3121 for free in the U.K. through the downmarket Mail on Sunday newspaper. At first he was ridiculed. Then he announced 21 consecutive London concert dates — and sold out every one of them.

Edited October 1, 2007 by Randy Lahey

[Allen8R]

the fact that there is no official label is the reason why radiohead is doing this.

It would be the worlds worst idea for Axl to try this....Dude, this is the most aniticipated and most expensive album ever made.

A8R

Edited October 1, 2007 by Allen8R

[Randy Lahey]

the fact that there is no official label is the reason why radiohead is doing this.

It would be the worlds worst idea for Axl to try this....Dude, the is the most aniticipated and most expensive album ever made.

A8R

Axl's label wouldn't let him give the album away for free like Radiohead is going to do anyway. The only way Axl could do this is if he cut a deal with the record company where he he gave them a cut of touring revenue(Tickets and Merchandise). I think it's pretty cool that Radiohead are sticking it to the music industry like this but in no way would Axl ever attempt this.

[tat2d1]

The places reporting that it was a hoax were evidently wrong, or just had their wires crossed. Maybe they were confused and thought an actual physical cd was coming out in 10 days.

I can see more of the established bands trying things like this in the future. Hell, you have to atleast attempt to be innovative in this era just to survive. Trent Reznor has said that when his deal is up, he plans on releasing his music online for 5 bucks for a full cd, you choose the bitrate. For people that feel the need to own something physical he'd release a "deluxe" version for retail sale.

The people that want a physical cd, booklet,lyrics,etc still get that option. With Radiohead you can order some deluxe version that ships out on December 3rd.

As far as GnR is concerned, I don't know if it would be in their best interest or not. I honestly don't think CD will sell multi millions like previous GnR albums due to A) The internet and B ) The fact that most average, non diehard listeners don't really consider this Guns N Roses. I can see 2-3 million US sales tops.

It would be cool if GnR did a digital release, and then for us diehards, make either a 2 disc set or a CD/DVD set available via retail outlets.

Edited October 1, 2007 by tat2d1

[Guest Judas]

I'd pay fifthy euro for chinese democracy if given the chance. I think this is a great idea!

[Estranged Reality]

Guys, I'm not saying they'd never release a solid, "real" CD (btw, Radiohead offers a real CD through its website for the new album as well as vinyl copies, so they're giving both to the fans).

I'm saying that GN'R could put out Chinese Democracy online first, then follow it up with a retail release. Doing this would at least draw some hype up around the CD. It's going to leak in advance and get pirated anyway through the Internet, so those who want to illegally download it will do so either way.

Frankly, I don't give a shit at this point whether I get a real CD or not, I just want new music, and if that means having to wait an extra two months for a hard copy, I'm all for that.

However, as I said - this is merely for hypothetical discussion. I doubt Axl would follow suit and do this.

[The Sandman]

However, as I said - this is merely for hypothetical discussion. I doubt Axl would follow suit and do this.

Too right, he's not stupid.

[Estranged Reality]

However, as I said - this is merely for hypothetical discussion. I doubt Axl would follow suit and do this.

Too right, he's not stupid.

Why do you think it would be stupid of him to offer Chinese Democracy as a download through the official website prior to its retail release?

Think about it - the retail copy will hit file sharing networks and private trackers well before its street date, and with the amount of hype around the album it's going to get downloaded like crazy.

There are also a lot - a lot - of people who really hate Axl but are still curious to hear the album, and I've spoken to a lot of people on other forums who claim they'll download the album illegally when it comes out, but never pay for it and put money in Axl's pocket. On Oink, for example, CD is one of the top-requested albums, with a few thousand votes. That means when it leaks, and someone fills the request, thousands of people will illegally download it. Most of them probably won't buy it when it hits the retail vendors.

By releasing it for $10 a download or something through the website, Axl would be able to curb this. The die hard fans would pay instantly (people such as you and I). Some people would obviously spread it to the file sharing networks, but Axl could at least get an initial boost in sales through the website. By offering exclusive download through the website, he could also encrypt the files a la iTunes with some type of security measure, so that it can't be shared. It would be a considered lame by non-fans, but I'd be happy for this. As long as I pay for a copy, I don't care if I can illegally share it or not. I don't plan on doing so.

I think it would work pretty well.

[Estranged Reality]

I just preordered the Radiohead album for free, btw. I'm a bastard. I should have paid something, but I can't be bothered to dish out a credit card right now.

[tat2d1]

I just preordered the Radiohead album for free, btw. I'm a bastard. I should have paid something, but I can't be bothered to dish out a credit card right now.

You could have atleast given a buck for it, geez.

[Estranged Reality]

I just preordered the Radiohead album for free, btw. I'm a bastard. I should have paid something, but I can't be bothered to dish out a credit card right now.

You could have atleast given a buck for it, geez.

I probably will later on.

Besides, I've bought almost all their other albums. I'll probably buy this one when a hard copy comes out.

[tat2d1]

I was just fuckin with ya.

[Roky]

You can listen to the new Radiohead album here : http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/31468

[bluesy]

Radiohead are amazing! Leave it to them to do something this cool.

Axl is not quite as cool, nor is he innovative, nor is he giving to his fans. He wants to release his album the traditional way and wishes to have the same success he did two decades ago. Of course, the only way to do this is endlessly tinker his tired old material, which he constantly grows sick of and needs to take a break from, only to come back to it later with enthusiasm and tinker it some more until his muse someday posesses him to tack on the finishing touches.

[Randy Lahey]

I'd download Axl's album illegally and then when it came out on CD I'd go buy it. Personally, I just don't believe in paying for mp3's. As for iTunes... Fuckem!! Apple makes all this money off selling people shitty iPods that break within a year and then they expect us to pay to buy music off them.

Edited October 1, 2007 by Randy Lahey

[graemewark]

i hope radiohead go back more to their roots there first 3 albums are fuckin shit hot, especially the bends i still listen to that, fair dues to them experimenting and shit but i find everything they have done since ok computer unlistenable i cant be fucked with it i want an album thats an easy lesten like the bends, and i hope to fuck axl hasnt been using radiohead as inspiritaion, cause kid a amnesiac and hail to the thief are fucking garbage that i cany be fucked with, but they did the bands and i find that one of the greatest albums ever

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MpxRMxBTjWw

[bluesy]

i hope radiohead go back more to their roots there first 3 albums are fuckin shit hot, especially the bends i still listen to that, fair dues to them experimenting and shit but i find everything they have done since ok computer unlistenable i cant be fucked with it i want an album thats an easy lesten like the bends, and i hope to fuck axl hasnt been using radiohead as inspiritaion, cause kid a amnesiac and hail to the thief are fucking garbage that i cany be fucked with, but they did the bands and i find that one of the greatest albums ever

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MpxRMxBTjWw

They'll never go back to The Bends. This band is all about evolution. To go back to easy-listening, conventional, formulaic song structures would be to follow in the paths of U2, REM, or any of those other once-cool bands that resorted to adult contemporary pop shit in order to stay relevant and play it "safe." These guys would sooner break up than play that cheap game.

[oneway23]

Constantly treading new ground..gotta love it. Innovative move for a world renowned act with the industry clout to really make this a tipping point for a dinosaur of an industry.

[nman406]

Axl has some money to make up for in terms of his recording budget....

the staggering, what... 15 million now?

I keep hearing this but it doesn't make sense to me. Axl can probably pull 15 million from somewhere pretty easily. With the exception of a few Ferrari's and the occasional helicopter ride and 15-20k weekend binge, I don't really see what he could be blowing his money on.

Does anyone know what the band earned on the UYI tour?

[niko]

No. I want a CD, something solid, not just another download.

i was going to post exactly the same!

totally agree with you