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Radiohead’s latest album, In Rainbows, debuted this morning.  Ten DRM-free mp3 files were made available this morning to all customers who pre-ordered In Rainbows from Radiohead’s commerce site.  Customers who bought the full box version should get of the box package around December with the Album scheduled to be available in 2008.

Radiohead’s unique departure from normal online distribution has generated a lot of buzz.  First they announce the album just 9 days before its due release (perhaps to prevent track leaks) spinning industry folks into their general harrumph fits every time they don’t get their way only to push them into full on tizzies by selling the download version from their website DRM free and allowing customers to choose their own price.

I doubt that Radiohead stands to feel the sting of cheap internet dl’ers when they also offer a very enticing collectors-item diskbox--$82 bucks for two vinyl records and cds on top of the download offer. Concert goers will recognize tracks from the album as previously unavailable songs performed as far back as ten years.  Audiophiles will want to get their hands on a physical object in order to avoid any compression weirdness.  Then there is the honesty factor.  What’s a fair price for ten long-awaited tracks from a band that you love?

What’s the RIAA to do?  Trent Reznor’s Nine Inch Nails is now “totally a free agent” and is seeking his own unique relationship with his audience.  Is this a new trend for artists?  Not really, smaller bands have taken mp3 selling into their own hands for a while now.  It’s only been by the sheer popularity of iTunes that indie musicians sought to climb on board the Apple juggernaut in hopes that it not only expands their audience but frees up a resource in distribution (and more time for tour tees).

Time will tell whether this is the new model for the future as we watch mp3 services offer similar options (like iTunes Plus) or if it’s an exclusive club for artists whose established audience can sustain them.

http://www.radiohead.com/
http://www.inrainbows.com/
http://nin.com

I’m still listening to it, trying to let every second of music soak in.  This is my, what, 7th time playing it on my iPod here at work.  I’m not getting a lot done.

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