Pay what you want and download (Radiohead)

Lyrs · Post by **Lyrs** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:58 am

So you could pay $0.00 and download it. Or you could pay $50 or $100, etc. It seems like a good idea to me. Offer a paypal, google checkout option, easy to find/fill check/credit form, and people might just pay or check it out on principle.

What do you guys think? Will this revision of the music economy be successful?

Bote · Post by **Bote** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 11:02 am

Heh heh. Neat. Only hardcore fans would really pay. 90% of all others are gonna leech like always. It's a good way to attract real devotees. I'd pay 50$ for Maiden's or Tool's songs.

Org Profile · Post by **Otohiko** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:27 pm

I'd wait and see. I think this can and should potentially work.

Besides, even if the average buyer pays a lot less than they would for a CD, the band might actually end up making more due to the ridiculous overpricing that major labels tend to do.

I'm positive.
(Ironically, yesterday I made my first online music purchases from a no less, if not more progressive independent artist - left with 11 hours of music (7 of them in quality freebies) after paying just $30)

Emong · Post by **Emong** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:28 pm

wow_!

Org Profile · Post by **Otohiko** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:36 pm

PS - I'm considering it, and I personally would pay what I think an album should actually cost - between $7 - $9.

Lyrs · Post by **Lyrs** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:15 pm

http://techdirt.com/articles/20070930/214524.shtml

radiohead's site is freaking slow at the moment from digg, slashdot, and other networks, but here's an article with more information. you get other merchandise too, it seems, or rather you buy the merchandise if you like the songs.

Corran · Post by **Corran** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:24 am

Magnatunes has been using a pay what you want approach for quite some time now. Nice to see a major act in the position and willingness to use a similar business model. Giving away albums for free like Radiohead isn't really going to work well for new and obscure groups though...

It'd be awesome if Radiohead and Magnatune combined forces...

Farlo · Post by **Farlo** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:18 pm

i wish more bands released albums on their own, especially online. i hate paying for music when i know its just gonna go to the label people with a small fraction going to the band.

nailz · Post by **nailz** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 7:17 pm

Farlo wrote:i wish more bands released albums on their own, especially online. i hate paying for music when i know its just gonna go to the label people with a small fraction going to the band.

thats why i always try to buy directly from the band when possible. it may cost me a little more, but it makes me feel better.

Org Profile · Post by **Otohiko** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 7:44 pm

nailz wrote:
Farlo wrote:i wish more bands released albums on their own, especially online. i hate paying for music when i know its just gonna go to the label people with a small fraction going to the band.
thats why i always try to buy directly from the band when possible. it may cost me a little more, but it makes me feel better.

Totally. In fact as of this month, I've altered my music-buying policy to strongly favour independent online download or order sites. Already spent well over $100 on that, and quite happy over it.