Today we downloaded Radiohead's new album 'In Rainbows.' Because they are wonderful, already no-doubt wealthy and also innovative, they put the album up for download yesterday at the customer's chosen price.
Therefore, if you want to pay zip you can be a jerk and do that. We chose 6 pounds, w. a 45p transaction fee. Without hearing the album, that seemed right.
By letting the listener choose the price, they had a lot more opportunity to experiment and also to take advantage (ha ha sucker, you chose to pay for something we pulled out of our rears in 5 minutes). But they have built up a trust with their listeners that they obviously respect.
I've only listened to the first six tracks thus far, and while they are not - for Radiohead - particularly experimental or groundbreaking, they are each beautiful and individual.
This is a move which I suspect will not only garner them greater respect and a larger audience, but which undermines the ridiculous stranglehold corporations have on the music industry. It gives hope that one day, listeners won't be fleeced and artists will be revered again for their talent not just their fashion (see the mother of them all on this one)
I agree that artists should be paid well and that there are certain costs inherent with putting out an album. But in this "modern age," it is great to see a viable alternative to buying a new yacht for the middle man.
Another plus is that when I clicked on 'Terms and Conditions' only a blank page came up. Those are my kinds of requirements!
I feel like maybe we ought to have paid more.
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