I downloaded illegally, even tho I paid for the discbox, because I didn’t get the access code sent to my email.

Any Radiohead site/blog comments will illustrate the same–many, many people had difficulties accessing the download.

Illegal downloads, the bit rate complaints–all of these issues stem from Radiohead having the courage to try new distribution methods. I don’t know why these issues are receiving such wrong-headed press reports.

For example, has anyone done the math on what type of servers and internet connections Radiohead would need to distribute over 1 million downloads of each song at 1,411 kbps (CD quality)? That’s absurd and people should think about it before griping.

This gives us an EXTREMELY interesting look at what the music industry is up against today. Radiohead said “Pay what you want or download it free if you don’t want to pay” and people still downloaded it illegaly.

Seriously… there is a lot to think about here, for the bands, and the record labels.

All things considered, Radiohead is really awesome for doing this. They are turning the music world upside down. Who knows, they probably did it on purpose, to make a point!

What the hell does it matter if it’s downloaded illegally or legally? If someone’s not paying for it, they’re not paying for it.

Certainly a very telling experiment. Just goes to show you how bad people suck, trying to get something for nothing and how out of touch big business is. Seems like there is a shortage of integrity.

If costs of production and promotion exceed the amount of cash given from people who actually pay for these things, I don’t see how this business can continue. I wonder if music will be scaled down a bit in the years to come.

How about how hard it was to get the effin site to even load correctly??? I got so frustrated I just asked my friend for it!

People obviously want to listen to music. So that is not the problem. The music business just has its head so far up its ass that it can’t find a way to tap into this illegal downloading phenomenom.

Back in 2000, the 4 major labels had talks with Napster (while it was the #1 illegal downloading site) but couldn’t pull the trigger on a deal. Napster was ready and they weren’t. Less than a year later, the major labels sued Napster.

These major labels have done this to themselves…fuck them. I don’t down load illegally anymore (reformatting my laptop twice because of viruses is enough for me) but I no longer mind people doing it. Especially considering the artists get hardly anything for a CD purchase.

In 5-10 years, there will be no major labels, long live independent record labels!!

If it is for free, what the hell is the importance of whether you download it from a website or a p2p network? This is just another occasion for record labels & the media to complain about the alleged nastiness and dumbness of those who download from p2p networks. It is just easier and quicker and cheaper, arent these enough good reasons to use p2p? and this doesnt prevent those same people from buying in record stores the albums they love and they want to own forever.
Radiohead did a great thing with this record, and those against free downloading are just pissed at it and want to see this initiative fail

Although I personally, downloaded from http://www.inrainbows.com, I can attest to the frustration of going to that website on the night of the release and seeing that it had crashed from all the downloaders… I personally do not blame anyone who downloaded the album “illegally” as most will probably buy the box set when it is in stores anyway.

i’ll wait until it becomes available for cd purchase, in favor of tangibility and optimal quality. if the new radiohead is that good, chances are it won’t be a quickly forgotten trend of the moment.

What they should do next time is really promote the album and the website it is being given away on. Make it a well known. I heard about the radiohead album coming out, but not which website it was on. Also, I just took the album from my friends i pod. Imposemagazine.com has a really good article and review covering the album and the way it was released.

To ‘End of Large Name Bands’–

The beauty of this method of releasing the album is that they had no production costs and no marketing costs…

The band records in its own studio (which they built a number of years ago) so the only costs were those of their engineers, producers, techs, and their own time.

Further, they just posted an annoucement on their website–all the other media came to them! So there were no magazine ads, no promo copies, no MTV whoring.

If reports are right, they’ve already made at least $8 million (first day alone), not counting the $80 discbox sales, so that’s a pretty good pay-off.

This won’t work for every band–many (like the Foo Fighters, Chili Peppers, etc.) rely on singles/radio/TV to get their albums out…they will either stay with the majors or die.

Bands like NIN, Radiohead, etc., with a large and faithful (cultish?) fanbase will have no problem peddling wares online.

eep,
I was going to post a similar comment, but you covered it in very informative detail. Radiohead could take advantage of heavy commercial advertising to reach a wider audience, but it would indeed compromise their integrity. They are doing the right thing by allowing promotion of their new release to grow progressively through word of mouth. They don’t need to market themselves to attract the loyal fanbase they already have. Another band (with a cultish faithful following) is TOOL.

But…but…where is the outrage? I mean, its never been about the money, right my brothers at the anti-establishment-cum-video-b logging Rolling Stone? But that so many people are paying nothing for what has SOME value…I mean, if Rolling Stone was free, who would pay for the paper? Yes Radiohead makes plenty of money, but that is not the point. The point is they worked hard for a year to record music. That effort is worth your money.

“At this rate, the only people who won’t have In Rainbows by the time the CD comes out in early 2008 will be those unfortunate few who don’t have Internet access.”

…And those who don’t give a shit about Radiohead. I’m fucking sick of hearing about them.

This tenor of this article illustrates exactly how some still don’t GET what is enticing about ‘illegal downloading’.

It’s a matter of CONVENIENCE first, money second. I’m guessing if the InRainbows.com site wasn’t down for most of Tuesday evening less people would have ‘illegally’ downloaded the album.

Some still would have gotten it from their favorite BitTorrent app of choice. Why? Convenience.

Is that wrong? That shouldn’t be relevant to any music industry types. If they can’t wrap their mind around convenience being the #1 issue when it comes to access to music, they are simply not getting the message consumers are clearly sending.

This is an excellent article making a similar point:

http://www.fistfulayen .com/blog/?p=127

Matt and Genser – your comments clearly reflect your own selfishness and ignorance. Genser, do you really believe illegal downloading is ok… just because it is more convenient. Seriously, when did everyone get so lazy. Yes buying music or even buying it for free, takes some effort. This is called life. Challenges make it enjoyable and worth while. Purchasing “In Rainbows” was pretty damn convenient for me and I decided to give them a pound. Pretty nice of them I think. Matt, if you are sick of hearing about Radiohead, why are you responding and commenting on a Radiohead forum? Sounds to me like you kind of enjoy hearing about them.

Frankly, I download pretty much everything illegally, then if I like it, I go out and buy it. What am I supposed to rely on reviews and the radio to figure out what to buy? Please.

Once I found out that In Rainbows was coming out on CD, I decided I was not going to pay to download it from them. I’ll buy the CD when it comes out, I’m not going to pay twice for the same album.

I have a problem with this article taking what is a very positive experiment and trying to make it negative. As far as I know Radiohead has no problem with people downloading it for free on bit torrent vs. downloading it from them with a small credit card fee. It sounds like rollingstone is being the mouthpiece of the record industry who is scared that this might be a trend that might continue and they want to put out any “negative” thoughts out there that they can discrediting the whole experiment as useless.

This is actually a response to EEP IS RIGHT’s post, which is a few down but it really caught my attention and made me want to respond.

At the end of his/her post, the quote “In 5-10 years, there will be no major labels, long live independent record labels!!” pops up…which is by far one of the most ignorant and uninformed statements I have ever heard. If the major labels aren’t succeeding with their huge back catalogues and vehicles for promotion, what makes you think Independant labels will?

In the end, I don’t mind how you downloaded the radiohead album – I would prefer to hear you got it from the website so the band has the satisfaction of knowing how many people actually have their album, but it doesn’t exactly matter. But to be misinforming others by claiming that Independant labels will conquer the majors…well, unfortunately it’s not working that way.

Why not check out the major torrent sites and see how popular In Rainbows is. Compared to other releases this CD is NOT POPULAR on the torrents, fans are buying it.

I mean I didn’t…but still.

And many causal/non fans download CDs for free simply because they can. Hey they heard the “buzz” about the new Radiohead album, so they downloaded it. Does that mean they ever listend to it? Probably a very different demographice D/L for free than tru fans of the band that really want to hear (and support) the band.

Hell, I have now resorted to downloading CDs that I already own because the original media it burned on back in the 80s/90s have simply deterioted from poor quality. Record labels told ushow ‘indistructuble’ CDs where and ‘would last forever’. Whoops looks like they were wrong but, who cares about the consumer they’ll just buy the “deluxe” version or buy it again when we come out with a new format that’s even better.

A: We are . . . .

Do you really feel like an estimated USD 7M is bad money in just a week ?

Especially considering this is the first such experiment of global scale, the servers resented the load a bit, and still the public found ways to get the album out of love for these musicians.

Don’t you get it ?
Radiohead is actively encouraging people to get the digital album and pass it on to friends.

Not to mention Radiohead (by your own RS review) have just delivered one of the best rock albums in… maybe a decade ?
It speaks loud about the creative freedom and the talent Radiohead had been forced to hold back under corporate editorial control.

Sounds like you’re venting bitterness for the dinosauric recording industry.

They didn’t know how to produce it, they didn’t know who to sell it, they didn’t know how to sell it.
So the know-it-alls are now getting a lesson in business by the kids.

What is exactly you’re complaining about ?

As for me, I can’t wait to get my hands on the GBP 40 InRainbows box, and the greedy incompetents won’t be getting a cent from me.

I think it’s great that Radiohead is offering their new album for free online. It’s always a great way to gather more fans.

Anyway, if you become or if you really are a fan, you’ll end up BUYING the boxset/CD anyway. That’s what I do to support my favorite bands. That, and go to their gigs/concerts.

So, I really have no qualms with people downloading it from their website or from torrents. Let them be. If they absolutely fall in love with the music, I’m sure they’ll realize sooner or later that it is worth their money.

i DOWNLOADED IT FROM THE PIRATE BAY BECAUSE i COUDNT OPEN THE DAMNED FILe. thats the truth.

I attempted to buy the album from Radiohead’s website, but after I was done purchasing it, I was unable to locate the file on my computer. I think it is awesome the way the band is releasing “In Rainbows,” but I wish the way of getting the album was a bit more reliable.

I paid for the album then downloaded it illegally because I didn’t get the email to download it that day. Turned out it was in my junkmail folder

Oh it couldn’t be that Radiohead’s website came to a complete standstill when they released the album, oh no. Not at all. Because, you see, that’s a conclusion you can only arrive at if you actually researched for your article. Or maybe just employing some logic, but that’s a pipe dream around these parts.