It's Up to You

Says Radiohead.

Radiohead has announced that it will release its seventh studio album, “In Rainbows,” on Oct. 10 as a digital download. What’s more, the band will let its fans decide how much, if anything, to pay for it.

“It’s up to you,” the checkout screen says on the U.K. band’s Web site, radiohead.com, for pre-ordering the 10-song disc.

An expanded, physical version of the album also will be released, but not until Dec. 3. It will include an18-track double-album packaged in both CD and vinyl versions, with lyrics, artwork and photographs in a hardback book and slipcase It will be sold for 40 pounds, the equivalent of about $80.

The band’s Jonny Greenwood made the announcement Sunday on radiohead.com: “Well, the new album is finished, and it's coming out in 10 days. We've called it ‘In Rainbows.’ ”

That sort of terse public-relations release wouldn’t fly at a major label, but the internationally acclaimed U.K. band has completed its obligation to Capitol/EMI and is a free agent. Though the major record labels have blamed free file-sharing for cutting into album sales, Radiohead’s career has painted a different reality.

What does this portend for the music industry? Answer here.

It’s not like Radiohead’s living in a different world. But they’re playing by a different rule book. One that says the money flows from the music, that people have to believe in you, that you’ve got to treat them right.

Shit, you can barely get a ticket to a Radiohead show. The venues aren’t big and the demand is incredible. They’re doing it all wrong, don’t they see??

Well, obviously they don’t.

This is big news. This says the major labels are fucked. Untrustworthy with a worthless business model. Radiohead doesn’t seem to care if the music is free. Not that they believe it will be. Because believers will give you ALL THEIR MONEY!

This is the industry’s worst nightmare. Superstar band, THE superstar band, forging ahead by its own wits. Proving that others can too. And they will.

This is what happens when you sell twenty dollar CDs with one good track and sue your customers for trading P2P. This is what happens when you believe you’re ENTITLED to your business. This is what happens when music is a second-class citizen only interested in the bottom line.

Just bought my discbox. Felt good to pay the band direct. Screw the record companies. Support bands who are willing to challenge the status quo. Here.

It's Up to You