Monday, October 1, 2007

Radiohead's New "In Rainbows" Marketing: Revolutionary or Monumentally Stupid?


Just another sign of the growing power of the internet.
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Radiohead is introducing a sales and distribution model that's either revolutionary or monumentally stupid. The band is self-releasing a brand new 10-track LP, "In Rainbows". It will only be available for the first two months as a digital download and only via the band's official website. Most important, forever iconoclasts, Radiohead has decided fans can pay whatever they want.

"It's up to you," appears on the checkout page after you click on a question mark next to the price. (There is, though, a $1.00 credit card transaction fee)

If you want something you can touch and feel (and have the big bucks), there's the "In Rainbows" discbox available on Dec. 3. It's about $80 and includes the digital download material and an extra album with eight new songs. The discbox will also include a double-vinyl record, photos, artwork and lyrics encased in a hardback book and slipcase.

The 10-track digital download can be accessed on Oct. 10. It can be preordered at http://www.inrainbows.com

1 comment:

KFM said...

There's already precedent for this kind of "pay-what-you-think-it's-worth" thing:
http://consumerist.com/consumer/charity/the-restaurant-that-lets-you-pay-what-you-want-224639.php

Got a lot of attention a few years ago...