Dear Radiohead,

Dear Radiohead,

Congratulations on the forthcoming release of your new, highly anticipated album, In Rainbows. But I have a minor bone to pick with you. The reason why I took a job as a music journalist was to get free CDs - it certainly isn’t for the money. I know you’re, what, the biggest, most critically praised band in the world, and I know you also have your reservations about both your fans and your role as the preeminent experimental rock band of this generation, but your decision not so send out advance promo CDs of In Rainbows is very disappointing to me. I got a message from your publicist saying “There will be no advances, promotional copies, digital streams, media sites, etc. of RADIOHEAD’s In Rainbows.” What, do you think you don’t need me anymore? That you will sell a gillion copies of your new album with neither help from a record company nor press hype? That despite not giving us advance records to hear, that we’ll still write endlessly about your group’s brilliance? Well…yes, I suppose we will do that in any case because we are like, BFF, but that does not mitigate my extreme displeasure of being relegated to join the unwashed, greasy-haired masses waiting for their copies of the special box set or digital download ordered from your special album site.

Either way, while I’m pissed I don’t yet have a copy, I still like you and can barely wait until October 10th to hear your album. And that bit about how you’re saying fuck you to the Record Industry and charging people whatever they want to pay for it is pretty cool of you as well.

PS - I lost my pirated copy of The Bends while on tour - we gave it to the sound guy in Vancouver so he’d have something to play over the house PA besides terrible, terrible thrash metal. Would you mind sending that to me again? Thanx

See actual news articles and quotes about how Radiohead is destroying the music industry record buying model after the jump.

Time Magazine: Pay What You Want
MacDaily: Eliminating the Middle Man

Radiohead.com is open for business with pre-orders having begun today for their 7th studio album In Rainbows, which will be available from October 10 as a DRM-free MP3 download. Also available to pre-order from now is the Discbox, a special edition box set, details of which are below.

Radiohead’s fan service, WASTE, is currently taking advance orders for two formats: the album MP3 and the Discbox, which includes double vinyl and CD versions of the record and a second, enhanced CD with additional new songs, artwork, and photographs of the band, all exclusive to the box. Anyone purchasing this deluxe edition will automatically receive the bundled MP3 album on October 10.

Radiohead are currently planning a traditional CD release of In Rainbows for early 2008.

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