Comments on: Bits and Pieces of Radiohead http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/ Music culture, strategy and thinking in the digital age Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:46:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mp3 release ideas « A-List Records http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/comment-page-1/#comment-1127 Mp3 release ideas « A-List Records Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:43:26 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/#comment-1127 [...] A-List Records A Linear Archive « Ted.com wisdom Mp3 release ideas 14 March, 2008 Okay this is a work in progress. It is A-List Records’ attempt to explore some new promotion ideas that are floating around the music industry. Well the idea is not a new one, but there is, certainly, a new focus on it. The idea is simple: giving away your music for free increases your “value” as an artist. Thanks Radiohead. [...] [...] A-List Records A Linear Archive « Ted.com wisdom Mp3 release ideas 14 March, 2008 Okay this is a work in progress. It is A-List Records’ attempt to explore some new promotion ideas that are floating around the music industry. Well the idea is not a new one, but there is, certainly, a new focus on it. The idea is simple: giving away your music for free increases your “value” as an artist. Thanks Radiohead. [...]

]]> By: 2007: Year in Review at New Music Strategies http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/comment-page-1/#comment-1126 2007: Year in Review at New Music Strategies Sat, 22 Dec 2007 20:21:09 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/#comment-1126 [...] Bits and Pieces of Radiohead Okay, so I was far from the only person weighing in on the whole Pay-What-You-Like / Boxset dual [...] [...] Bits and Pieces of Radiohead Okay, so I was far from the only person weighing in on the whole Pay-What-You-Like / Boxset dual [...]

]]> By: Nick http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/comment-page-1/#comment-1116 Nick Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:49:37 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/#comment-1116 Sorry I'm late to the party, but I read this post right before going to Digital Music Forum West, and on my phone, so I couldn't comment before. I've very little to say other than this is some of the most insightful writing I've heard on the subject - and I've heard a lot. The difference in the actual CD and the "ephemeral" download is key here - and as eMusic CEO David Pakman put it "Labels will listen as you explain innovative, exciting ways to distribute their music and they'll get it and want to be on board but say "OK, give us $0.70/track and we're in" iTunes itself is a fundamentally flawed model because it tries to apply a "units" model to the ephemeral digital file - an entirely new business model is what's required (which is what i've proposed over at penny distribution, btw) Sorry I’m late to the party, but I read this post right before going to Digital Music Forum West, and on my phone, so I couldn’t comment before.

I’ve very little to say other than this is some of the most insightful writing I’ve heard on the subject – and I’ve heard a lot.

The difference in the actual CD and the “ephemeral” download is key here – and as eMusic CEO David Pakman put it

“Labels will listen as you explain innovative, exciting ways to distribute their music and they’ll get it and want to be on board but say “OK, give us $0.70/track and we’re in”

iTunes itself is a fundamentally flawed model because it tries to apply a “units” model to the ephemeral digital file – an entirely new business model is what’s required (which is what i’ve proposed over at penny distribution, btw)

]]> By: Drom Kapult http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/comment-page-1/#comment-1113 Drom Kapult Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:39:30 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/#comment-1113 I paid £5 for the digital download but then I paid £5 per album for albums from Tom Robinson's site (great albums) on a similar principle (though Tom's site doesn't require any payment). I think of these things in a similar manner as an honesty box that you might find at the side of the road with help yourself veggies or eggs in certain parts of the countryside. The impetus to pay more than a minimum is to encourage more of the same and £5 is more than the artist would see from an iTrap or CD sale. The idea of adding the £40 deluxe boxset is a great one and I wouldn't be surprised if repeat business comes from people feeling cheap and buying the download, then going back for the physical media (especially if they are getting on a bit and thus physical media is important). I paid £5 for the digital download but then I paid £5 per album for albums from Tom Robinson’s site (great albums) on a similar principle (though Tom’s site doesn’t require any payment). I think of these things in a similar manner as an honesty box that you might find at the side of the road with help yourself veggies or eggs in certain parts of the countryside. The impetus to pay more than a minimum is to encourage more of the same and £5 is more than the artist would see from an iTrap or CD sale.

The idea of adding the £40 deluxe boxset is a great one and I wouldn’t be surprised if repeat business comes from people feeling cheap and buying the download, then going back for the physical media (especially if they are getting on a bit and thus physical media is important).

]]> By: Emptyeye http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/comment-page-1/#comment-1114 Emptyeye Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:09:35 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/#comment-1114 I like the idea and think it'll work well for Radiohead. I do not think it'll be the silver bullet in the music industry werewolf, however, for a couple reasons. One, as others have mentioned, Radiohead are an established band. But more importantly than that, Radiohead have less a fanbase than a full-fledged cult surrounding them that will eagerly devour anything they put out. In other words, they have a lot of fans, and I'd bet that they have a higher than average percentage of fans that will happily buy the super-ultra-deluxe boxset version of the album at roughly $80USD. I have no idea how much they cost to make, but I truly believe that there is no risk here for Radiohead, as you said--but for different reasons. More precisely, I'm willing to bet that the profits from the boxset version will be more than enough to recoup any theoretical loss from people putting in "0" or "(Whatever the lowest British currency denomination is)" or whatever. So it'll work for Radiohead, but I'm not sure how well this particular model would work for a band that doesn't have that cult following around them. I like the idea and think it’ll work well for Radiohead. I do not think it’ll be the silver bullet in the music industry werewolf, however, for a couple reasons.

One, as others have mentioned, Radiohead are an established band. But more importantly than that, Radiohead have less a fanbase than a full-fledged cult surrounding them that will eagerly devour anything they put out. In other words, they have a lot of fans, and I’d bet that they have a higher than average percentage of fans that will happily buy the super-ultra-deluxe boxset version of the album at roughly $80USD. I have no idea how much they cost to make, but I truly believe that there is no risk here for Radiohead, as you said–but for different reasons. More precisely, I’m willing to bet that the profits from the boxset version will be more than enough to recoup any theoretical loss from people putting in “0″ or “(Whatever the lowest British currency denomination is)” or whatever.

So it’ll work for Radiohead, but I’m not sure how well this particular model would work for a band that doesn’t have that cult following around them.

]]> By: CraigT http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/comment-page-1/#comment-1115 CraigT Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:00:48 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/#comment-1115 The Radiohead thing is not really that big a deal. Internet marketers have been using this method to sell their 'back ends' for years; offering lots of free reports and free products [oh yeah. Grab this. Value $777] in order to hook people in then sell the course at $597, then the other course about something else at a further $897 and so on with the occasional free mp3 audio interview of 'me and some Internet Guru' thrown in to keep the deals sweet. Radiohead have applied an internet marketing strategy to selling their product. The reason it appears great is because the music industry have educated everyone for years that the price they set for a product is it's actual value. Whereas the actual value of anything is whatever value you give it. Radiohead are merely piddling about with perceived value which is much easier to manipulate in the world of 'bits' than in the atomic universe. The eventual sensory perception and sensual experience you derive from the product - however it's delivered - is it's actual and real value. And that is the decision that you, the consumer, make. Lot's of musicians have been giving away free music for years. They just don't have the might of the music industry marketing consumer education systems behind them like Radiohead have. And this is what has added 'value' to this band's experiment. Bet it's good music though. The Radiohead thing is not really that big a deal. Internet marketers have been using this method to sell their ‘back ends’ for years; offering lots of free reports and free products [oh yeah. Grab this. Value $777] in order to hook people in then sell the course at $597, then the other course about something else at a further $897 and so on with the occasional free mp3 audio interview of ‘me and some Internet Guru’ thrown in to keep the deals sweet.
Radiohead have applied an internet marketing strategy to selling their product. The reason it appears great is because the music industry have educated everyone for years that the price they set for a product is it’s actual value. Whereas the actual value of anything is whatever value you give it.
Radiohead are merely piddling about with perceived value which is much easier to manipulate in the world of ‘bits’ than in the atomic universe. The eventual sensory perception and sensual experience you derive from the product – however it’s delivered – is it’s actual and real value. And that is the decision that you, the consumer, make.
Lot’s of musicians have been giving away free music for years. They just don’t have the might of the music industry marketing consumer education systems behind them like Radiohead have. And this is what has added ‘value’ to this band’s experiment. Bet it’s good music though.

]]> By: Pete Ashton http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/comment-page-1/#comment-1117 Pete Ashton Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:37:08 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/#comment-1117 @Smiles: "download the album, listen to it, THEN pay what you think it’s worth." I wish artists would do this. I often download stuff via BitTorrent to check it out and I'd rather just throw some cash their way than go through the rigmarole of buying the CD which I'll never play or getting DRMed downloads which I'll then delete. (Plus the bit rate on BT is usually far superior). @Smiles: “download the album, listen to it, THEN pay what you think it’s worth.”

I wish artists would do this. I often download stuff via BitTorrent to check it out and I’d rather just throw some cash their way than go through the rigmarole of buying the CD which I’ll never play or getting DRMed downloads which I’ll then delete. (Plus the bit rate on BT is usually far superior).

]]> By: Pete Ashton’s Blog » Dubber on Radiohead http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/comment-page-1/#comment-1118 Pete Ashton’s Blog » Dubber on Radiohead Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:34:00 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/#comment-1118 [...] Dubber gets with tehe thinking on the Radiohead thing: The brilliance of the Radiohead release is entirely in the extent to which they have approached both of these types of media on their own terms. The way in which you make a desirable item of quality in the world of bits is not the same way in which you make a desirable item of quality in the world of atoms. [...] [...] Dubber gets with tehe thinking on the Radiohead thing: The brilliance of the Radiohead release is entirely in the extent to which they have approached both of these types of media on their own terms. The way in which you make a desirable item of quality in the world of bits is not the same way in which you make a desirable item of quality in the world of atoms. [...]

]]> By: Rich http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/comment-page-1/#comment-1119 Rich Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:52:25 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/#comment-1119 Madlib & Talib Kweli gave away their album "Liberation" at the start of the year for free for one week as a download and have since gone on to release it in physical from as CD and coloured vinyl and by all accounts it seems to be selling well. I'm sure (but could be wrong) that it would have sold less had it not had the hype from the free giveaway. Madlib & Talib Kweli gave away their album “Liberation” at the start of the year for free for one week as a download and have since gone on to release it in physical from as CD and coloured vinyl and by all accounts it seems to be selling well. I’m sure (but could be wrong) that it would have sold less had it not had the hype from the free giveaway.

]]> By: Nolan Smock http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/comment-page-1/#comment-1120 Nolan Smock Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:03:24 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/2007/10/03/bits-and-pieces-of-radiohead/#comment-1120 I think what's also pretty cool about this is that, even though Radiohead obviously has the money to produce that awesome box set, if this sort of practice is applied to a relatively new band who is just playing around live a lot, they can release a digital version of their album to create some capital for a tour or a physical release without any sort of label advance. Clever. I think what’s also pretty cool about this is that, even though Radiohead obviously has the money to produce that awesome box set, if this sort of practice is applied to a relatively new band who is just playing around live a lot, they can release a digital version of their album to create some capital for a tour or a physical release without any sort of label advance. Clever.

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