Music Labels in Trouble?

I stated it before, is this the beginning of the end of the recording labels? The new album from Radiohead is important, and not just for the band, but for the future of music. Radiohead has become a major band as big of name as U2, The Rolling Stones, or other major recording artist out there. Even if you don’t like or listen to their music, this album is important because of the way it’s being released. Any album from them would be a big deal right now, but since they currently do not have a label representing them, they have the ability and freedom to do what as hey wish. Such as releasing an album with no major publicity, and without the media blitz a record label would produce.

Radiohead is a big enough band…..they don’t need it.

They probably really don’t need the money if releasing the album as a download only fails. But I don’t think it will. Allowing fans to buy the album for a price they set themselves it great. Most people I have talked to have actually been paying around $8-$10. The average price for a digital download. “In Rainbows” may have already made the band more money then previous releases. Bands normally do not make very much money from a CD being sold. On average, maybe around $2 per disk. The rest of the money goes to manufacturing, promotion, and….the record labels. Instead all the proceeds go directly to the band (I’m sure a little to the online service for distribution).

What’s even more interesting is that In Rainbows is getting more word of mouth publicity then most albums. Large (mostly corporate) websites are not talking about it because they have gotten nothing from a label asking them to promote it. This album will take o because to the average person and their blog. I would bet somewhere on most small music blogs, there is something about this album coming out. If that’s not a grassroots marketing campaign, I don’t know what is.

So, hopefully the music will live up to the hype, but with a band like Radiohead, I’d think tht will be a problem. It’s a exciting time we live in, as long as your not working for a label. Cause then I’d be a scared.

P.S. I recommend the new Blonde Redhead album, “23″
wow, it’s damn good.