Can the Radiohead/NIN model of music downloads work for smaller artists?

[Benjamin Strange]

Here's an interesting topic. Way back in 1999-2002, my old band, Dead Hand System, starting releasing albums on the net for free - with an option to pay. We had very little success with funds and we abandoned the idea.

Fast forward 5 years, and the entire landscape of the music industry has changed. Big bands like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails are jumping on the DHS bandwagon. I have yet to hear any actual figures mentioned, but I imagine that Radiohead is making a decent bit of cash (and is being lauded as being visionary with their "pay what you want" plan...). Can this business model work for a band that isn't already multi-platinum?

I've started doing this kind of thing again, with my microtonal ambient project, Burnt Infant. I released two albums a couple of weeks ago, and they've been downloaded approximately 50 times. Not a soul has donated one red cent. Now, I understand that ambient music isn't for everybody, and it's not going to be some diamond studded cash cow, but I hoped against all hopes that I might have made at least $5. Established ambient acts such as Robert Fripp and Brian Eno can make some decent money making whale noises - is it possible for a nobody like me to make anything at all?

The question I pose is this: can this kind of thing work for smaller, less established artists? Or do we still have to come up with a more novel, and profitable, approach?

[bluestarbass]

From what ive heard it was a major let down. I havent seen all the numbers but everything ive read says that radiohead did not do well. Im still curious what they are basing this off of. The average price paid was much less than what the CD would have sold for, but there is no label taking their portion.

I think the answer is no. With a HUGE band doing mediocre at it, a band no ones ever heard of will never sell a CD. Youd have to have such a dedicated fanbase that agreed your music was worth something to them. I think theres maybe 100 bands in the world that could pull this off, but on a local level, my opinion is no, it wouldnt work.

[dancehallclasher]

Originally Posted by bluestarbass

From what ive heard it was a major let down. I havent seen all the numbers but everything ive read says that radiohead did not do well. Im still curious what they are basing this off of. The average price paid was much less than what the CD would have sold for, but there is no label taking their portion.

We already had a thread about this but given the numbers we have, they did better than they would have under a standard label contract, so it's only a let down through the eyes of a big-time idealist.

Anyway I say probably not, for the average band. For one thing, most teenagers don't have their own credit cards which is a necessary for online payment and the young ones are a massive part of the market.

On the other hand, the business model works for churches. It's just that small bands would be the little churches run by simple monks who've taken a vow of poverty, and Radiohead is a southern megachurch with TV airtime.

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by dancehallclasher

We already had a thread about this but given the numbers we have, they did better than they would have under a standard label contract, so it's only a let down through the eyes of a big-time idealist.

+1

Radiohead did really well considering they pocketed 100% of the profits. I think it can work, it just has to be more widespread. If EVERYBODY has just their music available on THEIR site, it will work. But too many people go to the middle men.