Revel Lever®

Let’s pull our heads out of the sand here. It really doesn’t matter how many people paid, or didn’t pay for the new Radiohead album in it’s digital form. The reality is that they now have it, and if they like it, they will probably buy the physical release, or a concert ticket, or some merchandise, or something branded with Radiohead. This isn’t a question of fan loyalty, rather a component of a larger sales / marketing effort that drives the other three major revenue streams: publishing, merchandising, and touring income. If 38% of people actually paid for the music in it’s digital form, then that’s simply bonus revenue (i.e. gravy). Music is the loss-leader now. It’s what gets people in the store, spending their money on other goods.

I, for one, downloaded the album and paid nothing. But, I really love In Rainbows and plan to purchase the physical CD and hopefully have the opportunity to see them live (as I have never been so fortunate).

Radiohead Numbers Emerge, 62 Percent Paid Nothing — Digital Music News