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Radiohead's New Experiment: iTunes Store

Monday, December 10th, 2007 at 9:40 AM - by

The popular band Radiohead shocked record labels when it decided to offer its newest album, In Rainbows, as a download for whatever people thought it was worth earlier this year. Now it looks like the band is ready to try another experiment: distribution through the iTunes Store.

Radiohead manager Bryce Edge said the group has begun negotiating a distribution deal with the iTunes Store, according to dBTechno.

An Apple spokesperson commented "Talks are ongoing with iTunes. A deal with Apple Computer's download store would represent a massive breakthrough on a number of levels, and one which apparently would require a shift in position from one of the parties."

If Apple and Radiohead strike a deal, it would mark the first time a band signed a distribution deal directly with Apple instead of working trough a record label.

Radiohead began offering its In Rainbows album as a download from the band's Web site earlier this year. The group raised eye brows when it announced that it would let listeners pay what they thought the album was worth instead of setting a fixed price.

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brett_x said:

member since 24 Jan 2006 with 322 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:06 pm

I'm not sure I get this.. I bought it for free, now it's going to be offered for money? Hmmm...

Okay, I actually paid $12 for it, but the point is many people already have it because it was offered essentially for free. I can't imagine it is going to fly off of the iTunes store shelf too quickly. I hope they have very low expectations.

My hope is that they make other Radiohead releases available. Physical media just plain sucks and is a threat to fake plastic trees everywhere.

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A guest said: (hide)

Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:47 pm

The more important issue is that a deal between Apple and the band alters the standard distribution channel - with the record companies in the middle. Unlike some, I do not envision Apple setting up any kind of label, but I do see the possibility for bands - especially already successful ones- to take control of their own distribution arrangements rather than relying on record company dinosaurs.

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Substance said:

member since 21 Sep 2004 with 32 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:03 pm

guest gets it. Bands going around the RIAA would create the potential for a major paradigm shift in the music industry.

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A guest said: (hide)

Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:31 pm

Someone needs to tell the Apple spokesperson that Apple isn't called 'Apple Computer' anymore...

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A guest said: (hide)

Thu Dec 13, 2007 11:40 am

the paradigm shift had already been made. it's not really a breakthrough for Radiohead to go around record labels, that't not new. there are big name bands that have been sticking it to the establishment for a long time (pearl jam vs apple & ticketmaster, etc). what the radiohead manager realizes is that some people are pretty stupid, and they just buy all their online music from the establishment (itunes). so the smart people go pay the band directly, others will give their money to the middleman they love best, in this case itunes. don't kid yourself, itunes IS the establishment with online distribution, and they bully content makers just as hard as any label does.

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