Radiohead: 'In Rainbows' comes to iTunes
updated 05:45 pm EST, Wed January 2, 2008
Radiohead comes to iTunes
Alternative rock band Radiohead has added its latest album, 'In Rainbows,' to Apple's iTunes Store. The musical group's recording contract with major label EMI ended in 2004, and the band recorded as well as produced 'In Rainbows' without the help of a major label. The band sold copies of its album digitally online in October, allowing customers to choose their own price for the work. Radiohead was silent on official sales figures, but one report placed 1.2 million copies of the album on the hard drives of consumers on the first day of its release.
The British rock band was reported to be considering a deal with iTunes earlier this month, but had previously refrained from selling tracks individually while citing licensing issues as well as artistic concerns.
Lead singer Thom Yorke told Time just before Radiohead began recording songs for 'In Rainbows' that: "I like the people at our record company, but the time is at hand when you have to ask why anyone needs one... It probably would give us some perverse pleasure to say 'fuck you' to this decaying business model." The group chose not to re-sign its contract with EMI, and its latest album is being praised by many as its finest work yet.
cheaper at Amazon
01/02, 08:04pm reply
You can get the Radiohead 'In Rainbows album $2 cheaper at Amazon and DRM-free. Radiohead 'In Rainbows'
geekjon
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008
come on
01/03, 12:16am reply
Why are you shilling for Amazon? "In Rainbows" is DRM-free at iTunes also, with better quality, though it does cost more.
Don't be a tool.
elroth
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Joined: Jul 2006
The lure of money
01/03, 04:36am reply
For all that savvy (but bullshit) stunt about letting listeners decide how much they want to pay for their album, they finally couldn't resist the lure of iTunes' $ 9.99
(Sigh)
:o)
Skanoza
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Joined: Jun 2007
Re: come on
01/03, 08:35am reply
Why are you shilling for iTunes, with it's obviously more expensive content?
Back when all iTMS music was 128 kbps, people said it was good enough. So what's not 'good enough' about cheaper 256kbps MP3s from amazon?
LouZer
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Joined: Nov 2000
re: come on
01/03, 09:20am reply
"Back when all iTMS music was 128 kbps, people said it was good enough. So what's not 'good enough' about cheaper 256kbps MP3s from amazon?"
128kbps AAC is much better than 128kbps MP3.
Similarly, the 256kbps of iTunes Plus is much better than 256kbps MP3.
Some people won't be able to tell the difference, others wpn't care, some will want the small added convenience of purchasing right in iTunes, still others will want to save $2.
But the original commenter implying that it was only DRM-free at Amazon (even if that's not what he intended) was in the wrong, and, price aside, the iTunes no-DRM version is definitely higher quality than Amazon.
das
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Joined: Jan 2001
DRM-free
01/03, 09:49am reply
The intent was not to imply that iTunes Plus was DRM-restricted, but to note that you don't have to compromise on DRM to save money. Afterall, Radiohead would want their audience to choose how much they want to pay ;-)
geekjon
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Joined: Jan 2008
MP3 vs AAC
01/03, 06:27pm reply
Although I understand AAC is a better format and more standardized than MP3 is, it's inarguable that MP3 is a more widely adopted format. With few exceptions, every digital audio file player out there will play it and new ones likely will for some time.
Even though I own iPhone+iPod right now, who's to say I will in 5-10 years? I'd like to know that what I buy now isn't [predominantly] tied to a particular company's product line.
And 256kbps MP3 is more than fine. Those with quibbles about that are listening to their headphones/speakers, not their music.
For the practical buyer, Amazon seems like a better choice and I commend their model. Apple shouldn't be having all the fun.
marcelebrate
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Joined: Jan 2008