Comments on: Radiohead’s album “In Rainbows” draws a surprising number of “freeloaders”

By: Aaron Tomowski

Aaron Tomowski — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:52:58 +0000

Sounds to me like comScore was “hired” by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) to swing the results in the industry’s favor. Truth of the matter is, for the first time in history, record labels no longer have the upper hand. Now, anyone with a computer can upload and market their own albums. I think the RIAA is finally starting to feel the effects of the “cyber age”. But like typical money-hungry corporations, they refuse to change along with technology, or attempt creative marketing ploys like Radiohead’s.

In a few years, I could see everything changing…there will be very little reliance on record labels, with more artists sticking to the internet to market and release their own projects. I know I’ve learned to grasp things like BitTorrent, Reverbnation, and Last.fm (as Radiohead has also done) to promote my own music by encouraging free distribution. Thousands of other bands have done the same. If you self-release albums, you can also keep WAY more of the profits than selling through a distributor.

I’m neutral when it comes to Radiohead (though this album is good), but I paid $7 just because I hate the music industry, and feel my money should go to smaller bands and labels (Ipecac Recordings, for example), or bands such as Radiohead that are willing to grasp technology, and think outside the box. The RIAA has notoriously stolen artist royalties for years, then all of a sudden cry foul when people steal their lifeless, manufactured music.

By: ryan scott

ryan scott — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:27:23 +0000

I might download it just to see what it sounds like – I am not a radiohead fan. So does that make me a freeloader or someone who is just trying before I buy?

Give me a break. These numbers are interesting, but their interpretation is crap.

By: my music blog

my music blog — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:02:16 +0000

if that is the case, then omg! those people don’t have a heart! In Rainbows, before it was out for your pricing scheme was a long journey for Radiohead! Have a heart Guys! Radiohead deserves more than a cent of of your opinion!

By: terminal157

terminal157 — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:27:06 +0000

“But, this shows pretty conclusively that the majority of music consumers feel that digital recorded music should be free and is not worth paying for.”

It’s far from conclusive. I, for one, payed nothing for the download because I plan to buy the CD when it comes out. I’m not alone in this. Also, many people decided to download for free and listen before deciding what it was worth to them.

“In other Radiohead news, the band will be… working with the EMI label Parlophone to sell its full back catalog…”

Actually, they have nothing to do with it and reports are surfacing that they’re angry about it. It’s entirely EMI’s doing, and it’s meant as payback for Radiohead signing with XL Records.

By: Jonathon Martin

Jonathon Martin — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 06:06:48 +0000

I’d be very interested to know how Comscore got their information. These sites are notoriously unreliable at monitoring basic traffic let alone getting detailed information. I would take it with a huge pinch of salt and I certainly wouldn’t call it definitive.