I approve

[lostcarpark]

This isprobably old news, but I read Radioheead are releasing their new album as MP3 downloads and giving the fans the choice of whether they want to pay for it or not. Someone commented that "they are the first band to put their money where their mouth is". This is nonsense, of course, as lots of independant artists have been doing more or that for years, but it's good to see a big name follow suit.

In the SF world, Charlie Stross did something similar with Accelerando and it didn't do him any harm at all. He possibly should have figured out some sort of tracking system so he could see how many downloads converted into book sales, though.

Personally, this makes me much more likely to buy the album, though I probably won't go for the €58 deluxe edition.

Comments

[ang-grrr.livejournal.com]

On Radcliffe and Maconie (sans Radcliffe) last night it was suggested that this is the way forward. Download for the normal sales and then a special box set (which Radiohead are releasing at £40) for the die-hard fans and collectors.

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I suspect Radiohead are in the minority who see the light, with too many wanting DRM and tight control over downloads.

Not quite

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

... most people have had the "download it, and if you like it, pay for it", far fewer have had the "download it, and then pay what you think it's worth" that Radiohead are (apparently) doing.

So it's not a choice of paying or not paying, it's a wider choice of paying as much as you think it deserves.

And they are one of the first *big* bands to offer _that_ option (probably not the first, but it's less impressive as a news story to say "Radiohead are joining the tiny trend of allowing people to pay whatever they want to for their latest album")

Re: Not quite

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. Do you get to listen to the songs before you decide what you want to pay?