Radiohead’s Honesty Box
So, it looks like Radiohead are going to sell their new album “In Rainbows” by asking fans to pay what they think it’s worth. It sounds like a crazy idea, but I think there’s some merit in it.
In the era of digital copying, almost any song can be acquired from almost anywhere (in essence for zero cost). However, there are people who don’t like doing this, and will pay for an album. They like to feel good about the artist getting a reward for their work.
So, some people will take it for £0. These are the same people who would have downloaded it from somewhere else for nothing. Others will pay a few quid, and some diehard fans will probably pay more like the full price.
Personally, I’ll buy it. I won’t pay anything like full price, because I’ve been generally disappointed with what they’ve produced since the splendid OK Computer, but I know they’ll be a few good ones on there.
I’d pay £4-5 (which is slightly above the equivalent price of eMusic tracks). What would you pay?
RSS
I wonder if they are the first to do this. I recall reading somewhere that legally, all we had to pay restaurants for a meal was what we thought it was worth.
Not sure about the restaurant thing. Sounds like a myth.
As far as I’m aware, no other major band has done this (there are people who give music away for donations). Radiohead recently completed their contract with EMI, so can try these things.