The surprise news that Radiohead are releasing an album next week (did anyone even know that they were even close to finishing?) brings with it two important issues. Firstly, unless you want the £40 deluxe pack, the band are only asking you to pay what you think it’s worth [non-Radiohead fans insert own joke here]. Clearly this altruistic stance is easier to do when your loaded but it gives more credence to the idea that there’s no money in putting out records these days. Other news today says that The Charlatans are going one stage further and giving away their new album on XFM’s website. This follows The Crimea and, most famously, Prince, who both decided that getting more people down for gigs was the way to support themselves. Even Travis’ free best of in The Mail On Sunday this weekend had their new single on it.
The other issue raised by Thom Yorke and co is that by putting the album out on release themselves (although a supermarket/high street-friendly CD could appear through EMI next year) they are bypassing the record label completely. They’re probably the highest selling act to do this since Simply Red went it alone. Could this – with the other bands mentioned – be the end of record labels? Quote-happy Alan McGee (former Creation boss and current Charlatans manager) puts it thus: "Why would you volunteer to join the army for 10 years unless you had no choice? Record companies are kind of like the army; very regulated.”
Whatever, it’s an interesting time for music consumption. But no, it doesn’t mean you can download any band’s music guilt free. Consider it try before you buy.
Kendall
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