2008 Woodie Awards
Radiohead changes the face of the music industry with new 'CD'
Erin Shea
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
10/24/07 - Radiohead has always been anti-mainstream, but a recently announced decision to release In Rainbows, the band's newest album, as a download - allowing customers to pay whatever they want for it - is striking fear in the hearts of many industry big wigs and creating quite a buzz here on the URI campus.
The decision, following Radiohead's recent break with its record label, is deemed an "experiment" by the band.
Sophomore Nicole Patel, 19, was optimistic about the "experiment's" outcome. "Maybe it will be easier for people to get [record] deals with what's happening," she said. " The competition might go away if [artists] keep deciding to be free agents [like Radiohead]."
Freshman Rob Fruggiero, 18, disagreed. He said the idea was "awkward" because he felt no one was going to pay money for the album when they could legally get it for free.
Sophomore Kay Smith, 19, asked if she could pay one cent. While Senior Nick Barcia, 22, said, "I feel bad saying it, but I actually paid nothing for the album."
Barcia added, however, that he intends to download the album again, this time paying Radiohead for tits efforts. He also added that he believes- despite recent fears to the contrary "the record industry will definitely take a hit, but they'll survive somehow, just like they did through Napster and every other file distribution craze in the past decade."
Several other students disagreed with that though, among them Louie Marchetti, an 18, a freshman who said "In the long run [the record companies] are going to realize that they're not the only ones who can produce a record."
Smith agreed, saying that if working as a free agent turns into a trend, "[Record companies] would be up [a] creek, like VCR makers." However she was skeptical that it would become a trend. "Honestly, I don't think it's going to garner much of a response except from Radiohead lovers," she said.
Fruggiero agreed, pointing out that it's kind of hard to say whether it will turn into a trend. "Right now, maybe some bands want to take a risk," he added.
Radiohead certainly isn't taking a huge risk though. Although the downloaded version of the CD is available for any price there will be a deluxe edition of In Rainbows available for a set price beginning on or before Dec. 3. Copies can currently be pre-ordered at www.radiohead.com, where the DRM-free copy of the album can also be downloaded.
The decision, following Radiohead's recent break with its record label, is deemed an "experiment" by the band.
Sophomore Nicole Patel, 19, was optimistic about the "experiment's" outcome. "Maybe it will be easier for people to get [record] deals with what's happening," she said. " The competition might go away if [artists] keep deciding to be free agents [like Radiohead]."
Freshman Rob Fruggiero, 18, disagreed. He said the idea was "awkward" because he felt no one was going to pay money for the album when they could legally get it for free.
Sophomore Kay Smith, 19, asked if she could pay one cent. While Senior Nick Barcia, 22, said, "I feel bad saying it, but I actually paid nothing for the album."
Barcia added, however, that he intends to download the album again, this time paying Radiohead for tits efforts. He also added that he believes- despite recent fears to the contrary "the record industry will definitely take a hit, but they'll survive somehow, just like they did through Napster and every other file distribution craze in the past decade."
Several other students disagreed with that though, among them Louie Marchetti, an 18, a freshman who said "In the long run [the record companies] are going to realize that they're not the only ones who can produce a record."
Smith agreed, saying that if working as a free agent turns into a trend, "[Record companies] would be up [a] creek, like VCR makers." However she was skeptical that it would become a trend. "Honestly, I don't think it's going to garner much of a response except from Radiohead lovers," she said.
Fruggiero agreed, pointing out that it's kind of hard to say whether it will turn into a trend. "Right now, maybe some bands want to take a risk," he added.
Radiohead certainly isn't taking a huge risk though. Although the downloaded version of the CD is available for any price there will be a deluxe edition of In Rainbows available for a set price beginning on or before Dec. 3. Copies can currently be pre-ordered at www.radiohead.com, where the DRM-free copy of the album can also be downloaded.