[SoylentGreen]

TORONTO - Long regarded as music innovators, British band Radiohead is shaking things up even more with an announcement that fans can pay as much - or as little - as they want for a digital download of the supergroup's next album. "This could be seen as a turning point in the way artists and fans interface when it comes to the release of new material," "Here is a superstar band that is out to prove that record labels are not necessary. And if this works for Radiohead, could you imagine what will happen to other superstar bands who have the same means or greater to do a similar thing when their contracts come up? Duncan McKie of the Canadian Independent Record Production Association said it was premature to predict the demise of record labels and stores. He noted that roughly 80 per cent of Canadian record sales still come from traditional CDs and that labels offer artists a powerful way to reach consumers worldwide. Industry observer Jeremy DeBeer said the move was just the latest example of artists breaking away from major labels to gain greater control over how their music is marketed and distributed. He doubted fans would take advantage of Radiohead's initiative. "I would be shocked if people abused that. I would expect that people would pay fair market value for the tracks," said DeBeer, a law professor at the University of Ottawa who specializes in music copyright issues. "I think that what fans will appreciate most is the gesture and the creativity they're seeing from the bands that they love and that stands in stark contrast from industry associations and many of the major labels." "There's no doubt that the price of the physical CD is a form of price gouging and consumers are not accepting that. That's evident from declining CD sales. There's also been some consumers that feel the dollar-a-track price point that's emerged online, primarily because of Apple, is also too high." Singer Jane Siberry offers her songs as a "pay what you want" download, with the average price paid per song landing at $1.18, according to data on her website (Sheeba Catalogue - Music from Issa, Jane Siberry, Adrienne Pierce and Gyan.). More than 90 per cent of the people downloading music paid the suggested price or higher.

So I guess now were going to have to listen to those smug laizzes faire capitalists saying I told you so.