Admittedly, I was a little bit  concerned over the state of the music industry when Radiohead released In Rainbows last year as a pay-what-you-want downloadable album, but as it turns out, the stock market took a major tumble while the music industry just quietly gave itself an ulcer, and the Radiohead won on their  gamble.

Here are some cool Radiohead Stats from their Press Agents:

Little more than a year since Radiohead’s October 10, 2007 pay-what-you-like self-release  of its seventh album, In Rainbows, some conclusive statistics were made available at the recent “You Are In Control” conference in Reykjavik, Iceland.

For those who missed coverage of the conference while engrossed in something as trivial as the Presidential Debates or the world economic collapse, the following is a summation of key answers to FAQs:

* In Rainbows has sold three million copies thus far, a figure that includes downloads from Radiohead.com, physical CDs, a deluxe 2-CD/vinyl box set, as well as sales via iTunes and other digital retailers.

* The In Rainbows deluxe edition sold 100,000 copies via Radiohead fan service W.A.S.T.E.

* Radiohead made more money prior to In Rainbows’ January 2008 physical release than its total take on 2003’s Hail To the Thief.

* The physical release of In Rainbows entered both the US and UK charts at #1 in January, despite having been freely available since October 2007.

* In Rainbows was the first Radiohead album available on iTunes, where it went in at #1 in January, selling 30,000 in its first week.

In Rainbows also owns the singular distinction of being the first record widely regarded as album of the year in advance of its actual physical release: By the time TBD/ATO released In Rainbows to retail on January 1, 2008, the digital version had already topped the 2007 year-end lists at NEW YORK, THE NEW YORK TIMES, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, NPR, TIME, PEOPLE, ROLLING STONE, BLENDER, SPIN, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES and  many more.

Radiohead recently concluded a world tour in Japan, one that sold over 1.2 million tickets.

Sometimes typos can make otherwise boring shit a little more lulzy. Take for example, our friends in AZ-emo outfit The Maine, who besides having the best fucking tour manager in the entire music industry, Peter Digby Sellers, also happen to have 234928237 13-year-old girls as fans. Thus they are partnering up with teen girl outfitter and longstanding staple of mallville Wet Seal for a promotion, which includes an exclusive shirt designed by the homie Jimmy Richards and a bunch of in-stores during the bands current tour. Cool enough for them, but not really headline making material. However, the e-mail from the band’s label announcing this promotion was enough to make anyone with a dirty mind (basically, anyone who works at Synthesis) have a good laugh.

In return for a good laugh, I’ll go ahead and post the press release after the jump for any who are interested: (more…)

According to founder Tim Westergren, yes:

Founder Tim Westergren has stated that the service is approaching a “pull-the-plug kind of decision” for the service. Why is this happening? Last year, web radio giants were hit with outrageously ridiculous fees by a federal panel for every song that would be played on their stations. This caused a lot of services to either shutdown, or go through what Pandora has been experiencing for the past year. In doing so, it seems the financial problems the music industry has set out to create in order to win the constant battle between rights, piracy, and copyrighted music, are working.

I didn’t even know they had an app for the iPhone, fuckers. Hopefully they don’t fuck off for at least a couple of more days so I have a chance to try it out, figure out that it sucks and move on to something better.

Atlanta emo-pop titans Cartel and Wind-Up Records, home to such luminaries as Creed, Evanescence,  and Alter Bridge, have come to terms on a deal encompassing the band’s recordings, merch and  “artist development”:

New York — Wind-up Entertainment and the rock band Cartel have entered in to a number of agreements.  The band’s future recordings will be released by Wind-up Records.  Additionally, the sale of all Cartel merchandise at on-line, retail, and touring points of sale will be handled by Wind-up Entertainment’s Pronto Merch.  Lastly, Cartel has entered in to an agreement with Wind-up Artist Development Corporation, Inc.

The Atlanta-based quintet, featuring Will Pugh (Vocals / Guitar), Joseph Pepper (Guitar), Nic Hudson (Guitar), Jeff Lett (Bass) and Kevin Sanders (Drums), self-released their first EP titled RANSOM in March, 2004.  A deal with the Militia Group followed, and the CHROMA album was issued in 2005.  Epic Records re-released the title in the summer of 2006, delivering a significant groundswell.   The band’s self-titled follow-up CARTEL followed in 2007.  The band parted ways with the major label, opening the door for this alliance with Wind-up Entertainment.

Wind-up Entertainment President Ed Vetri shared, “In the continuing evolution of the music industry, Wind-up has been and continues to be a leader in developing a business model that forms true artist partnerships and provides for long term development.  We believe that bands like Cartel, and deals like this, are the future of this business.  We are excited to begin working with a group that has proven hard work, great songwriting, and a commitment to touring provides the basis for a long term career. We are excited to be in business with Cartel, and look forward to building on their already sizeable fan base.”

Cartel front man Will Pugh enthusiastically commented, “We are very excited to announce that we have signed with Wind-up Records. The overwhelmingly positive familial atmosphere of the label has us looking forward to what is certain to be a lasting and successful relationship. We’re extremely eager to begin this new chapter in the life of Cartel.  All five of us sincerely appreciate and thank our fans for their continuous heartfelt support throughout the lifetime of the band, especially over the last nine months or so.  With a new label home firmly secured and fresh winds filling our sails we foresee bigger and better opportunities for us to continue to grow and thrive as a band, while building off the same foundational elements that we have always embraced: hard work, endless touring, good vibes and fantastic fan-friendly relations.”

Cartel is currently working on the repertoire for their third album, and will enter the studio in the coming months.  The release is planned for early 2009.  Cartel will be co-headlining The Crocs Next Step Campus Tour August 29 through September 26 with Yung Joc (dates subject to change).

Well, there’s the shark, might as well jump it. Oh wait…they already did.

Blogger Perez Hilton wants to use his “talents” to start a new record label and save the music industry. His first task will be to do whatever it takes to revive the CD. His ideas for doing so include lowering prices of CD’s to something like five dollars and creating large partnerships with worldwide companies. His main goal is to get the public to start purchasing music again. With all the easy ways to get free music and the availability of downloads I wonder if his ideas will take off?

He wants to follow in the footsteps of Apple, Inc. creating popularity for small-time bands and artists featured on their commercials, like Feist. His partnership ideas include teaming with such large corporations as Wal-Mart and Target. I’m not so sure how these corporations will feel about partnering with an obnoxious individual who got his name from socialite Paris Hilton.

For more info on Perez check out his juicy celeb rumors on his blog site: http://www.perezhilton.com

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.

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