$0 for In Rainbows
The AP reports today that 62 percent of Radiohead fans did not pay for the download of In Rainbows, and the average the other 38 percent voluntarily paid was $6
RTP is shocked an appalled by the senseless act and we are doing everything in our power to give a shit. /sarcastic remark
Honestly, what did the world expect would happen? That Radiohead fans are so different from everybody else that they would open their wallets and pay $16-20? What bizarro universe do they think this is?
Let’s put this experiment in another set of terms:
The IRS has changed its regulations for 2008, so paying income tax will now be optional.
What percentage of people do you think will voluntarily pay taxes, and how much do you think that will be? If you were thinking zero percent, you’re probably right!
Thom York and the rest of the band did not have anything to say about the matter, but really what could they say? Actually, they could say, “We hope you enjoy the album.”
I do enjoy my free album Thom York, I do indeed. In fact, it’s probably going to be my #1 album of the year, so thank you for asking. Golly you ARE a right chap, perhaps we can get a scone, or laser eye surgery together.
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When I heard this news, I thought to myself- “I would pay $10 for the album.” No album is worth more than $10. If Radiohead wanted fans to take it for free, then they never would have given them a payment option to begin with.
But that’s just it, Radiohead made payment OPTIONAL.
If the band DIDN’T want listeners to take the album for free, they would have required a minimum price.
So the expectation had to be, some will pay, some won’t. I’m not sure they were expecting almost 2/3 of listeners would download it for free.
Sorry to change the subject, but is Thom getting ready to do a Crane Kick there?
“Sweep the leg Johnny (Greenwood)!”
I actually think it’s mind control. The picture and the optional payment.
Am I stupid for paying $837.50? I realize it probably drove the $6 average price up a bit making it even more arbitrary than it already is, but it’s my lucky number.
Wow, your lucky number goes to two decimal spaces? Lotto must be tough for you.
Something to consider here is that (if these numbers are accurate) Radiohead actually made more money than they would have in a traditional merchandising atmosphere. As TUAW points out, Thom and the boys would have only made $1 per album if released through a label.
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/11/07/eisner-blames-jobs-and-radiohead-cleans-up/
Even if they made $1 per album, would they have sold more had they pushed it through traditional channels.
500,000 at $2 is pretty much the same as 1,000,000 at $1.
Maybe it was a push?
No album is worth more than $10? I guess you’ve never bought a new CD?