October 10th will be a day that will send shock waves throughout the music industry.

As the digital age has sent record companies scrambling for a way to find new and different ways to profitably disseminate music, Radiohead will send a shot across their reeling bow by releasing their new album, In Rainbows, through their own inrainbows.com site. Currently unsigned, Radiohead are shrewdly gambling that they don't need any help in getting their music into the hands of their fans. In the absence of a label's need to recoup their recording costs, marketing budget and other incidental expenses, the increased profits would go straight to the artist. If Radiohead's business model succeeds, it could start a monumental shift towards artists regaining a substantial stake in the profits from their own recordings.

However, Radiohead won't be reaping untold fortunes just yet. In an even more industry-shaking development, for a DRM-free digital download, Radiohead will be using the same pricing structure utilized by museums around the world: pay what you wish.

Record labels, ask not for whom Thom Yorke tolls, he no longer tolls for thee.

Labels: Radiohead