Comments on: Radiohead ends experiment, heads for traditional distribution. Was it a success? http://www.last100.com/2007/12/11/radiohead-ends-experiment-heads-for-traditional-distribution-was-it-a-success/ Tracking the digital lifestyle Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:33:41 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Andrew http://www.last100.com/2007/12/11/radiohead-ends-experiment-heads-for-traditional-distribution-was-it-a-success/#comment-17470 Andrew Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:31:12 +0000 http://www.last100.com/2007/12/11/radiohead-ends-experiment-heads-for-traditional-distribution-was-it-a-success/#comment-17470 I've seen some parts of the webcast. I particularly like the Smiths cover. They played (as in played the record, not covered) the opening track from my favorite album of the year, The Shepherd's Dog by Iron & Wine. I haven't heard the second In Rainbows disc... must do that soon. I’ve seen some parts of the webcast. I particularly like the Smiths cover.
They played (as in played the record, not covered) the opening track from my favorite album of the year, The Shepherd’s Dog by Iron & Wine.
I haven’t heard the second In Rainbows disc… must do that soon.

]]> By: Daniel Langendorf http://www.last100.com/2007/12/11/radiohead-ends-experiment-heads-for-traditional-distribution-was-it-a-success/#comment-16887 Daniel Langendorf Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:25:49 +0000 http://www.last100.com/2007/12/11/radiohead-ends-experiment-heads-for-traditional-distribution-was-it-a-success/#comment-16887 Andrew: You're not clouding the issue. I think In Rainbows is my favorite album of the year. And I agree, "success" will be determined by many things. I think they've been already successful. By the way, have you heard the second disc? And the Webcast, Thumbs Down? The Webcast hasn't been talked about, but it's great. Matt D., I was thinking the same thing! I downloaded it illegally at first because the Radiohead In Rainbows commerce site sucked at first. When I finally got through, I bought the music, paying what I'd get it for at a Best Buy-like store. And with the physical release coming, I guess I will get that, too. Andrew: You’re not clouding the issue. I think In Rainbows is my favorite album of the year. And I agree, “success” will be determined by many things. I think they’ve been already successful. By the way, have you heard the second disc? And the Webcast, Thumbs Down? The Webcast hasn’t been talked about, but it’s great.

Matt D., I was thinking the same thing! I downloaded it illegally at first because the Radiohead In Rainbows commerce site sucked at first. When I finally got through, I bought the music, paying what I’d get it for at a Best Buy-like store. And with the physical release coming, I guess I will get that, too.

]]> By: Matt D. http://www.last100.com/2007/12/11/radiohead-ends-experiment-heads-for-traditional-distribution-was-it-a-success/#comment-16869 Matt D. Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:22:57 +0000 http://www.last100.com/2007/12/11/radiohead-ends-experiment-heads-for-traditional-distribution-was-it-a-success/#comment-16869 It's going to be really interesting to see how their album sales go when the album is released in stores around the new year. I don't have any evidence to back this up, but I predict that the 2 months of online experiment are barely going to hurt sales. I think a lot of Radiohead will be willing to pay $15 for the CD even if they have already downloaded the full album. It’s going to be really interesting to see how their album sales go when the album is released in stores around the new year. I don’t have any evidence to back this up, but I predict that the 2 months of online experiment are barely going to hurt sales. I think a lot of Radiohead will be willing to pay $15 for the CD even if they have already downloaded the full album.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.last100.com/2007/12/11/radiohead-ends-experiment-heads-for-traditional-distribution-was-it-a-success/#comment-16692 Andrew Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:55:11 +0000 http://www.last100.com/2007/12/11/radiohead-ends-experiment-heads-for-traditional-distribution-was-it-a-success/#comment-16692 Sorry to cloud the issue with a remark about music, but: In Rainbows is a rather good album. As to whether the online, DRM-free, pay-what-you-want release has been a "success," I think that the Radiohead was trying to achieve several things, including, in no particular order: - get the completed album out to fans as fast as possible. Very definite success on this count. - make money. Success on this count depends on profit from all sources: the download, the CD, next year's tour, merchandise,... Right now, we don't know. We don't even know whether the download will hurt or help sales of the CD. Sorry to cloud the issue with a remark about music, but: In Rainbows is a rather good album.
As to whether the online, DRM-free, pay-what-you-want release has been a “success,” I think that the Radiohead was trying to achieve several things, including, in no particular order:
- get the completed album out to fans as fast as possible. Very definite success on this count.
- make money. Success on this count depends on profit from all sources: the download, the CD, next year’s tour, merchandise,… Right now, we don’t know. We don’t even know whether the download will hurt or help sales of the CD.

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