If you are on the internet more than 20 minutes a day, you know about Radiohead’s In Rainbows album and how it struck such a chord (yes, pun is intended) with the online community and the millennium generation. Being able to purchase an album for any price of your choosing (including free) flew right in the face of the wretchedly backwards model the RIAA has artificially propped. I myself purchased the album for well over the usual market price – there were even instances where people paid $1000 to support such a bold move.
Well, it wasn’t as bold as we all had thought…
It turns out that In Rainbows was always planned to be sold the old (and backwards) fashioned way. This does not diminish what Radiohead did, but it resembles someone dipping their toe into the water to quickly go back to safety. Well, Saul Williams and Trent Reznor have jumped in head first with no flotation device. Williams worked with Reznor on his new album The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust and have made it completely free or $5. From what I have read, this is it – no CD release, no running back to the record label, just a pure relationship with the fans to directly support the artist.
In my opinion this makes Radiohead’s effort pale in comparison. There is real risk here if people decide not to support the album/artist. We have all cried for fairly priced music where the vast majority goes to middlemen – Niggy Tardust seems to be the most genuine step towards just that. All that aside, the album blew me away after the first listen – this is a great collaboration between Saul Williams and Reznor as you can hear strong influences Reznor while not losing Williams’ style. It is well worth the equivalent of an overpriced cup of coffee to support not just the artist, but what the artist is attempting to do. So let’s see if we as a community are willing to follow through and pay artists when they treat us fairly. This time, $5 goes a long way.
