http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/09/radiohead-launc.html
Radio launches their second widely available remix competition of their song "Reckoner". Their first remix was of "Nude". The sight got over 6 million hits. Even though "Nude" is in 3/4 time signature making it hard to remix. The contest to make the best remix of "Nude" cost $5 to enter and was very popular.
The new remix contest is of "Reckoner" an easier song being in 4/4 time. Remixable bits of it were released to the iTunes store. About a day and a half ago this contest started and already 236 remixes of the song have been made. The band also informed the remixers that the starting chord is C and the tempo is 103.4 beats per a minute. Also the samples for "Reckoner" are cheaper than the samples for "Nude" to further encourage people's creative outflow.
"Please remember if you wish to commercially exploit the stems in any way, you need permission from us. You don't have any legal ownership of this music simply by cutting it up or whatever." This was said to ensure mixers don't get any ideas about their creations. The Copyright still belongs to Radiohead.
Both these songs were taking from Radiohead's controversially marketed album "In Rainbows". Radiohead allowed people to name their own price for the downloadable version of the album on their website with $0 as an acceptable amount for two months. Many called them stupid, but analysts say it is likely Radiohead made more money from the $4-5 people gave them on their website than if "In Rainbows" had just been pirated. After two months the album came out on CD to good commercial success. I bought it and don't regret it.
I like Radiohead's music and I like their forward thinking market scheme even better. They are a hugely successful band and I hope their effect on the market they are in is very influential. Allowing their fans to remake their songs is an awesome privilege. Instead of bitching about their copyrights or their money, they go right up to their fans and allow them the chance to remix. They are cohesive to the new age of creativity. It is so exciting to see!
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2 comments:
I think that Radiohead has the smart idea. Like a couple of the books online that we have read, you can price it at whatever you please, and having a lot of people give a few bucks each is much better than a full price CD that most people are going to pirate. The Remixing contests are just very cool, and they are a fun way to show who you are and just how innovative or creative you really are.
Radiohead has truly proved themselves to be forward thinking businessmen. This is such an awesome idea not only have they allowed the people choose how much the CD is worth to them but now they give them the opportunity to create. Radiohead obviously understands the world we live in today and the constant need for the youth who wants to contribute to the world. This contest to remix their song has to be the most innovative idea since their last one allowing people to choose the price of their CD.
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