Radiohead released In Rainbows and let listeners set their own price

On October 10, 2007, Radiohead posted their seventh studio album, In Rainbows, on their website. The release came out without prior announcement, without a label and without the usual advertising. How much to pay for the download was up to the listener, who could enter zero.

The first release of its kind

A major band had never done this before, and the release was talked about all over the world. The contract with EMI had ended back in 2003, so the album came out without a major label. By the management's calculations, a digital copy cost less than three cents, and the release was to reach 173 countries.

Downloading began on October 10 at about 5:30 a.m. GMT. The album was offered as MP3 files without DRM protection, and the link was removed on December 10. Some praised the musicians for trying to rebuild their relationship with the audience: Bono called the band brave, and Jay-Z considered the move brilliant.

Criticism

There were harsh reviews too. Singer Lily Allen called the model presumptuous and harmful to less well-known performers, and Sonic Youth bassist Kim Gordon said the release did not help fellow musicians. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails thought Radiohead had stopped halfway.

On December 3, 2007, the album came out on physical media through XL Recordings. It took first place in the UK Albums Chart and on the US Billboard 200, and by October 2008 it had sold more than three million copies. In 2008, In Rainbows became the best-selling vinyl.

Image: Samuel Wiki CC BY-SA 2.5 · License

Translation editor: Ловушкин А.