Name your price

This week came the news that Radiohead are going to let their fans price their new album.  Fans have the option of giving a donation when they download the album with the minimum contribution being just 1p (plus a mandatory 45p credit card fee).  This news is hot on the heals of Prince who recently gave his new album away for free with the Mail on Sunday (and a free copy to all those who attended his concert at the 02).  So what does this mean for content in a digital age where the artists call the shots and choose how they want to monetise it?  This is further admission that traditional retailing models are being deconstructed, but interestingly in this instance by the content-owners themselves.  The Register has an interesting point of view on who really benefits.  Read it here.  Or for a more succinct reading of the situation see the lead comment on leyink’s Flickr picture posting: "Haha, the entire recording industry is so f*cked!". 

Photo credit:  leyink

Posted by: Ruth at time for tea on Friday, 5th October 2007