Radiohead results are in 6-10 mil USD in first month?

[Varwnos]

Well, is there any good track in this album?

[Adagio]

According to research firm ComScore, which conducted a study of the groundbreaking promotion, 62 percent of those who downloaded the album paid nothing.

I would have guessed the number of non-payers would have been higher. I imagine that a lot of people first downloaded the song for free, then some of them might go to the site again to "download" again, but this time paying for it. My guess is the above study would count such a person twice
A lot of the people just went there to download the songs to check them out. A lot of those who downloaded probably wouldn't buy the cd in the store



Doing something like this is probably better for the artist. Their music gets out to a larger number of people and for each album they sell they get more money than they would have gotten if they had sold it in stores (instead of the 10-20% the artists gets normally, they now get 100%)

[OneFootInTheGrave]

Radiohead’s Warm Glow

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/opinion/14sun3.html?ex=1350014400&en=89730521e2c1a376&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink,

interesting article in NY Times, there he actually references that only 1/3rd did not pay?!?, but regarless of how many paid and how much... he goes on to explain the "irrational" behaviour.

And this really shows the worst of the humankind

“Since we economists don’t understand tipping, we can’t really say whether this new scheme will work,” Greg Mankiw, a Harvard professor of economics, said in an entry on his blog. He is not the only economist who is fascinated by the phenomenon. His Harvard colleague, Dani Rodrik, asked his blog readers, “Has Radiohead gone bonkers?” He concluded, “Not at all.” Radiohead will make money. But those who are paying for the download may truly be nuts.

as in, only selfishness is reasonable.

and the best

Or does it? Some economists suspect that what is going on is that people get a kick from the act of giving the band money for the album rather than taking it for free. It could take many forms, like pleasure at being able to bypass the record labels, which many see as only slightly worse than the military-industrial complex. It could come from the notion that the $8 helps keep Radiohead in business. Or it could make fans feel that they are helping create a new art form — or a new economy. People who study philanthropy call it the “warm glow” that comes from doing something that we, and others, believe to be good.

yes somehow someway, even though we are though day by day to be selfish self interested robots, somewhere on the line they did not manage to convert us all (just yet)

FFS, "warm glow"... it's not just a phenomenon, it is a part of being human, and more essential than the selfish interest (to normal day to day living)... so tx Radiohead for giving us a chance to do give back what we like without coercion.


edit: and this record is so f. good that it is true justice it is the one which officialy started the "thrid way" between the fans and the artists

[Dinner]

I really didn't like this album but I've never been a Radiohead fan and this promo at least got me to listen to their album.

Oh, and free internet distribution is growing phenomenon which will likely become the default standard for most small or even medium sized bands. The reason is it completely cuts out the middle man so what ever money fans do decide to give goes directly into the band members' pockets. Plus it allows little guys to get their names out there and it gets ears listening to their music. That kind of increased exposure is exactly what struggling bands need. My hat is off to Radiohead for increasing awareness for the medium.

They'll still be able to make money doing live gigs, selling t-shirts and stuff, and possibly charging royalties if their songs ever get on the air. Even die hard file traders make a point of supporting bands they like buy purchasing CDs and memorabilia.