Radiohead announces new album

Long regarded as music innovators, British band Radiohead is shaking things up even more with an announcement that fans can pay as much–or as little–as they want for a digital download of the supergroup’s next album.

In a move that was quickly embraced by the band’s supporters and had industry watchers buzzing, Radiohead announced Monday on its website that fans can set their own price for a digital download of In Rainbows, to be made available digitally Oct. 10.

Many saw the move as a snub to major record labels and the hold they have on music distribution and promotion, noting Radiohead has been without a label since their contract with EMI expired in 2003.

However, the industry magazine “Music Week” reports that EMI is still in talks with Radiohead and that a conventional CD release would come early next year.

In the meantime, the band and its upcoming release enjoyed a flood of publicity Monday, with several observers hailing Radiohead as spearheading a new business model by cutting the record label and record store out of the equation.

“This could be seen as a turning point in the way artists and fans interface when it comes to the release of new material,” said Alan Cross, Toronto host of the syndicated radio show “The Ongoing History of New Music.”

“Here is a superstar band that is out to prove that record labels are not necessary. And if this works for Radiohead, could you imagine what will happen to other superstar bands who have the same means or greater to do a similar thing when their contracts come up?”

“Record labels exist because of the good graces of their superstar acts. The superstar acts are the ones that pay for the operation of the label.”

Radiohead fans that check out the band’s order page find a blank box under the heading “price,” allowing them to type in any number they want for a digital file.

“It’s up to you,” the buyer is assured in a message linked to the page.

The site says that a 46-pence bank fee (about $1) may be charged. Buyers will be sent download details by e-mail and an activation code permitting them to access the file Oct. 10.

A special disc box, including the CD, a bonus disc, two vinyl records, artwork and lyric booklets, costs roughly $80 and can also be ordered through the site. The package would arrive in December.

Duncan McKie of the Canadian Independent Record Production Association said it was premature to predict the demise of record labels and stores.

He noted that roughly 80 percent of Canadian record sales still come from traditional CDs and that labels offer artists a powerful way to reach consumers worldwide.

“You just can’t ignore that,” he says of revenue data.

“Whether you like them or not, if I were a musician cutting a record and I could do a distribution deal with a major label I would go for it. It’s simply because you will get universal distribution. Accessing all those markets is your best chance of getting reasonable remuneration on that work.”