Radiohead, my absolute favorite band, are trying a new concept with their next album “In Rainbows.” You can order their album, starting October 10, from their website. The new part? You can choose to pay whatever you feel you should contribute directly to the artist. You can contribute $100 or $1. I believe there is a minimum of $1 due to the partnership with the online company they are “selling” the album through. So they can at least get $1 per record sold, which would likely be in the millions; possibly tens of millions if everyone decides to pay $1.

Apparently they are no longer under contract with a record company, which means the RIAA can’t receive their cut from the purchased songs. Rebellion from the RIAA is a common act lately, as bands like Nine Inch Nails, who has just recently fulfilled their contract with Interscope Records, have taken clever measures to distribute their music to the public without the influence or interference of the RIAA.

There is definitely a new front on the distribution of music to the fans. Many refuse to purchase music that is represented by big businesses solely because they despise big corporations who get rich off of artists and sue fans into homelessness. I myself will be pumped to get my hands on the new Radiohead album, though I’m still trying to hash it out with my brain how much I should throw down for it. Any thoughts?