Spring Break
Radiohead Lets Listeners Choose To Pay
The Playlist
Stephen Ortiz
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Focus
Before I begin with this week's topic, I got my hands on an advance copy of Britney Spears' new album, "Blackout," and after listening to it, I've come to the decision that I don't think I've ever heard a bigger mess than this. Expect a full review next week.
Radiohead, a band oft known for their obscurities and mysterious ways, have just released their seventh album to date, "In Rainbows." Although they aren't given much attention in the mainstream music world, they are always received well by critics - "Rainbows" received near-perfect accolades from many publications, including Rolling Stone - but that's not what got Radiohead in the headlines these past few weeks. It was that Radiohead just released their seventh album to date, independent of a record label for "free" online.
The reason why the word free is in quotations above is because the consumer has the option to pay, and they can pay as much as they want. I would assume most will take this opportunity at the wonderful price of free, and this has the music industry in some sort of an uproar.
Album sales have been declining in recent years at a rapid pace - the CD is practically obsolete. Not only can consumers purchase just select tracks digitally through providers like iTunes, eliminating full album sales, but also piracy has crippled the industry from where it once stood.
In 2006, year-end album sales figures were down 4.9 percent from the 2005 numbers, dropping from 598.9 to 588.2 million albums, according to the Nielsen Soundscan. The 2005 figure was down from 7.2 percent from 2004.
Now combine the elements of Radiohead standing independently, declining album sales and the controlling nature of record labels and what does that do to the music industry? What repercussions does Radiohead's lone wolf move have on the music world?
Well for starters, it gave Trent Reznor, the one-man band that is Nine Inch Nails, the motivation to do something he's wanted to do for years: give Universal Music Group the finger and leave. For years, Reznor has been at odds with his label to the point of badmouthing them openly, and even attacked how they boosted the price on "Year Zero," his latest album, in foreign markets, telling fans during a concert to just download his music illegally.
Radiohead, a band oft known for their obscurities and mysterious ways, have just released their seventh album to date, "In Rainbows." Although they aren't given much attention in the mainstream music world, they are always received well by critics - "Rainbows" received near-perfect accolades from many publications, including Rolling Stone - but that's not what got Radiohead in the headlines these past few weeks. It was that Radiohead just released their seventh album to date, independent of a record label for "free" online.
The reason why the word free is in quotations above is because the consumer has the option to pay, and they can pay as much as they want. I would assume most will take this opportunity at the wonderful price of free, and this has the music industry in some sort of an uproar.
Album sales have been declining in recent years at a rapid pace - the CD is practically obsolete. Not only can consumers purchase just select tracks digitally through providers like iTunes, eliminating full album sales, but also piracy has crippled the industry from where it once stood.
In 2006, year-end album sales figures were down 4.9 percent from the 2005 numbers, dropping from 598.9 to 588.2 million albums, according to the Nielsen Soundscan. The 2005 figure was down from 7.2 percent from 2004.
Now combine the elements of Radiohead standing independently, declining album sales and the controlling nature of record labels and what does that do to the music industry? What repercussions does Radiohead's lone wolf move have on the music world?
Well for starters, it gave Trent Reznor, the one-man band that is Nine Inch Nails, the motivation to do something he's wanted to do for years: give Universal Music Group the finger and leave. For years, Reznor has been at odds with his label to the point of badmouthing them openly, and even attacked how they boosted the price on "Year Zero," his latest album, in foreign markets, telling fans during a concert to just download his music illegally.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Tim
posted 10/24/07 @ 12:28 PM EST
a mess? you have got to be kidding! Ive heard Britney's new album start to finish and its totally hot... man oh man, gimme a break ... i know its cool to bash and make fun of her, but this is the edgiest coolest music Ive heard all year. (Continued…)
topperfalls
topperfalls
posted 10/24/07 @ 12:31 PM EST
check out ew.com's review of this 'mess' ... her other stuff was lame but this is amazing, like her or not
Rowan
posted 10/25/07 @ 11:51 AM EST
I dont think the link between Trent Reznor and Radiohead is as pronounced as you make out. As you say he made those comments before In Rainbows. These things happened at the same time, Reznor didnt make comments or actions cause of Radiohead. (Continued…)
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