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Study: Fans Stiffed Radiohead for Album Download

According to Internet research group comScore, most fans who downloaded the digital release of Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' album didn't pay a dime of the choose-your-own-price donation.

Among those who did pay, Billboard reports that 38 percent of downloaders set their price at an average of $6, 17 percent paid less than $4, six percent paid $4-$8, 12 percent paid $8-$12 and four percent paid more. The remaining people paid nothing.

Radiohead has yet to release official numbers, but the band's spokesman told BBC News, "Although the idea is that you can decide what you want to pay, most people are deciding on a normal retail price with very few trying to buy it for a penny."

ComScore's study also broke down world sales and found that, of those who purchased the album, U.S. buyers topped non-U.S. patrons by four percent.

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RRCM

I paid nothing for the album because I'm buying the CD release when it comes out in the coming months. I don't think people should take the fan response to this "pay what you want" idea seriously, as many people like myself are likely to prefer paying for a physical copy of the album rather than a digital download.

On a side note, had the band been smart enough to offer a CD set for about $25, consisting of the 'In Rainbows' album packed with the b-side disc they're including only with the $80 boxset, I would have gladly purchased their music through the online Radiohead store.

November 11 2007 at 6:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
SC

I think they're as creative with their marketing as with their music. It's kind of sad that when given the opportunity to support artists who are willing to try something new, get us away from the 'record-store' prices, so many will just abuse and grab it for cheap. For the record, I gave them $18 for it, to say Thanks for their efforts. Haven't regretted it at all, and I'd never have paid them nothing. They're people too - pay $0 is like stealing from a friend.

November 11 2007 at 3:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
colm

i didnt pay for it... now seeing the results i feel kind of guilty. but to be honest they didnt pay for someone to make the album cover so i made my own i think that kind of cancels it out

November 08 2007 at 10:05 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
josh

What do these guys care? I paid 2 pounds for it. I have paid full price for every album they have released, so felt they were giving back to me. They are rich, its not hurting them any.

November 07 2007 at 4:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply