Copyright: What we can learn from Radiohead...

It was quite interesting.. After I had completed the assigned "copyright" readings for this week, I decided to do a bit of research on my own. I came across this really interesting article from October 2007 found in TIME magazine titled, "Radiohead Says: Pay What You Want". For those of you who aren't familiar with the band Radiohead, they are one of the most "out-of-the-box" rock bands of our time, and are always willing and able to push the envelope through both their music and business decisions. Although it may appear as if this article is a bit outdated, its contents directly relate to the ever-evolving idea of copyright--just prior to the release of their album, "In Rainbows", the band announced on its website that the album would be avaliable only as a digital download, and that, in order to purchase the album, fans were required to name the price that they were willing to pay (with $0 being as acceptable as $25). In relation to the idea of copyright that we have been reading about over the past week, what made this type of business strategy possible was Radiohead's decision to stay "label-less" after their contract with EMI/Capitol Records had expired in the summer of 2003. Without a label, the band was able to attempt this online business strategy without potential repercussions from executives or distribution directors (all of whom would be entitled to varying portions of "In Rainbow's " profits). Radiohead's daring antics pose an interesting question to the world of music (that, hopefully, those in my house can weigh in on): With the rise of social media sites and web 2.0 tools, would it be smarter for artists to network on their own and be in control of their own destinies? If so, what would happen to the music business as we know it to be?  In relation to copyright, if music was avaliable through an artist's site, would all music be (technically) within the public domain (i.e, without any real copyright restrictions/regulations monitoring its distribution)? Would that be good for music and other sources of viable entertainment? One must also remember that Radiohead is not just another indie band attempting to break into the big time; in many respects, this group is viewed as being one of the most influential and talented bands in the industry. If they can stay on top without copyright protection from a label (and with fans naming the price of an album), why can't other artists? Technology and multi-media sites are changing the way the world works and operates, and, because of bands like Radiohead, the music business is no exception.

 Video: Radiohead's "15 Step", off of their 2007 album, "In Rainbows"