I just read an article in the Sunday NYT by Jon Pareles, a great music writer. He interviewed Radiohead about their groundbreaking decision to not only sell their new album, InRainbows, online for any price the buyer wanted, but to remain independent and not sign to any major label.
In a world that lives by the initials C.R.E.A.M. (Wu-Tang's song and mantra: Cash Rules Everything Around Me), the article with one of the best bands on the planet was a breath of fresh air.
Here is some of the piece:
On why they didn't re-sign with EMI records:
“It was tough to do anything else,” Mr. Yorke said during Radiohead’s first extensive interviews since the release of the album. “The worst-case scenario would have been: Sign another deal, take a load of money, and then have the machinery waiting semi-patiently for you to deliver your product, which they can add to the list of products that make up the myth, la-la-la-la.”
A great quote from another music revolutionary:
“Money makes you numb, as M.I.A. wrote. I mean, it’s tempting to have someone say to you, ‘You will never have to worry about money ever again,’ but no matter how much money someone gives you — what, you’re not going to spend it? You’re not going to find stupid ways to get rid of it? Of course you are. It’s like building roads and expecting there to be less traffic.”
On the success of their decision:
And Radiohead was able to draw worldwide attention to “In Rainbows” with no more promotion than a modest 24-word announcement on its Web site on Oct. 1. To the band’s glee, it could release its music almost immediately, without the months of lead time necessary to manufacture discs. Mr. Hufford said “In Rainbows” has been downloaded in places as far-flung — and largely unwired — as North Korea and Afghanistan.
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