Exclusive: Radiohead Sell 1.2million Copies Of 'In Rainbows'

Band are raking it in...

by Scott Colothan
Thursday, October 11, 2007
filed in: Indie

Exclusive: Radiohead Sell 1.2million Copies Of 'In Rainbows'

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Gigwise has learnt that Radiohead have sold an amazing 1.2million copies of their seventh album ‘In Rainbows.’

The band and their long-term management company Courtyard Management have remained tight lipped about the exact sales figures, seemingly in a bid to add to keep a mysterious air around the album.

But speaking to a source close to the band last night, we’ve discovered that the Oxford band have achieved this monumental sales figure.

Even if every person who downloaded the album paid just 10 pence, the band will still rake in a massive £120,000. That figure is likely to be higher, with many speculating the average figure will even out at around the £1 mark.

With growing media hype around the release of ‘In Rainbows’, these unprecedented sales figures look certain to keep on rising. If they finally announce a world tour, audience figures are expected to be higher too.

Thom Yorke and co. will cash in again when the payments clear for the ‘In Rainbows’ box set which are on sale for £40 a go.

As expected, Radiohead are the clear victors of this radical way of releasing their album. Their success should prompt other big names to follow suit.

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(85)

”Their success should prompt other big names to follow suit” - yeah, as long as your any good. Robbie Williams might make £7.99 on his next album this way!
~ by @lex 10/11/2007
- robbie williams sell albums? lol not anymore :-)
  ~ by fatdancer 10/11/2007
Most people I know paid around a fiver for the album. I think £1 is an insult to the genius of radiohead.
~ by RIch 10/11/2007
Yeah but some people only paid 10p.
~ by andy 10/11/2007
why did you pay one pence when it came free with the discbox purchase ?
~ by pg 10/11/2007
the whole idea with pay what you want is that YOU CAN PAY WHAT YOU WANT TO. there is no minimum amount and they are rich bastards. you are all polluted by the industry. forget about money. rich bankers and advertisers paid for ten albums, and one of those is mine!
~ by e 10/11/2007
- ”e” = egoism
  ~ by jj 10/11/2007
- you go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking - Thom Yorke
  ~ by shonhk 10/11/2007
- I think it’s just fine to pay what you can afford, that’s the beauty of this whole concept. But to say we’re ”polluted by the industry” or to reduce Radiohead to ”rich bastards” doesn’t seem quite fair. Considering the amount of pleasure I’ve derived from the album already I consider the 12 bucks I paid a major bargain. And if my paying a decent price for the album allows someone else without the means to enjoy it as well....fantastic.
  ~ by Doug 10/11/2007
- This type of idea is also happening in the design and architecture world......select your generic design (ie) a chair customize it to your size,color etc on line make, order and pay whatever you like over the product’s production cost (ie 40 euro) and add 1 euro or 0 if you so desire......download a house design for 1 euro or 0 and modify with a local engineering firm and /or local consultancy to meet local standards.
  ~ by koto05 10/11/2007
- No, this is definitely a good thing. A small band doesn’t need to have a record company to distribute it’s music anymore because distributing downloads is cheaper than CDs. If this method of distribution becomes commonplace then even small bands will be able to make money because of Internet’s very powerful ability to reach a huge audience. Its signaling a change in the whole way people get their music.
  ~ by Jack of shadowsJack of the shadows 10/13/2007
He paid for the download and the diskbox because the diskbox isn’t available yet and I’m guessing he didn’t want to wait...
~ by MusicLover 10/11/2007
Loathed as I am to criticise Radiohead, this is something only the incredibly rich artists can even think about doing. Radiohead became a global act through EMI’s marketing millions as much as anything. So where’s the risk now? If this tactic became commonplace, a lot of emerging artists are going to suffer badly. Ironic considering Radiohead’s support of the independent music scene all this time.
~ by AlexPanic 10/11/2007
- through EMI’s marketing or through writing some of the greatest albums ever??
  ~ by James 10/11/2007
- No, this is definitely a good thing. A small band doesn’t need to have a record company to distribute it’s music anymore because distributing downloads is cheaper than CDs. If this method of distribution becomes commonplace then even small bands will be able to make money because of Internet’s very powerful ability to reach a huge audience. Its signaling a change in the whole way people get their music.
  ~ by Jack of the shadows 10/13/2007
In response to pg, I didn’t buy the discbox, as I always listen to music while I’m writing software at my computer. So, I wouldn’t make full use of the discbox.
~ by RIch 10/11/2007
To ”e”: ”they are rich bastards. ... advertisers paid for ten albums, and one of those is mine!” - No it isn’t. You’re just a clueless dipshit ready to steal other peoples’ work. I paid £7, as I would have done in a store, and that does not include your or other would-be non-conformists’ copies. Radiohead got where they are through hard work and talent. This won’t keep leechers from stealing. Your kind will never pay a cent for art, beca
~ by wintermute 10/11/2007
i was happy to hand over £40. theres probably a list of maybe three or four bands id spend that much on an album. theyre a great band, simple as that. im pretty old school when it comes to downloading, ill put stuff on my mp3 player, but i’ll always buy the physical media. im very happy with the free download at the moment until i get the cd / vinyl copy. its an amazing album, congrats to radiohead for dragging me and the music industry into the 21st century.
~ by Apollo 10/11/2007
I paid £4 (plus the cc fee), which is about what a new album costs here in the states at some stores with the weak dollar. Glad to pay a fair price to support a great band sticking it to the labels.
~ by Fro 10/11/2007
I think the average could have been higher if there were other possibilities than paying via credit card. I don’t own one and so I paid nothing. I would’ve paid 5 pounds otherwise.
~ by bender 10/11/2007
I think if you pay for the discbox, you get the download straight away (included in the price), and the discbox comes in the post when it’s available.
~ by RIch 10/11/2007
- Yep. And I know a fair few people who, like me, have parted with 40 quid for it and I won’t regret it, cause the album is simply brilliant! If I wasn’t getting the discbox I’d probably pay around a tenner for it.
  ~ by The Mighty Dave 10/11/2007
I reckon this is the best idea in years. They’re onto a winner because a lot of people who wouldn’t buy a Radiohead album will probably do so on this occasion to see if they’re any cop. They could end up getting quite a few converts if the album’s as good as everyone’s saying it is. I’m gonna get it for nothing, just cos I can, and am I hell gonna feel guilty about it.
~ by Charlie Wahlie 10/11/2007
Given Radiohead’s long-standing trend of bucking the record industry, I’m curious as to how anyone thinks they got rich from EMI’s marketing. Someone truly needs to explain what EMI’s ”marketing role” was, since EMI seems to have barely had a hand in anything. The whole ”value of music” and ”starving artist” debate isn’t new. Radiohead made millions by artistry, not marketing. The emerging artist market isn’t dying from
~ by Smalrus 10/11/2007
- Publicity, booking, distribution, financial backing, merchandise. Some of these may have been handled by entities other than emi (i dont know exactly how w.a.s.t.e. operates, for example), but Radiohead is not autonomous.
  ~ by ach 10/12/2007
I didn’t pay anything, but I’m going to buy the cd when it’s released in stores next year.
~ by mike 10/11/2007
- yup.. me too.. coz i don’t have cc to pay.. i’ll wait the physical release when it’s out in stores. :)
  ~ by reza 10/14/2007
I paid $22 US Dollars for In Rainbows. I’ve probably listened to the album at least ten times already and it has been worth every penny. I must say they did a very nice job of screwing the industry on this one. Peace and props to Radiohead and all of their loyal fans!
~ by Lauren 10/11/2007
i would, however, suggest that anti-marketing is still marketing. that isn’t to say that brilliance doesn’t play a role here, but would radiohead have been able to do this with any success if they were even radiohead of ”the bends” era? i applaud them and think this could have an impact on not if, but HOW the industry moves forward. i think there is still a place for labels if they can recognize the value of business supporting art, not the other way around. and yes, i
~ by mattmatt 10/11/2007
I paid 2 English monies for it because that’s about how much I’ve always thought a pressed disc should cost.
~ by Dave 10/11/2007
Who the hell cares how much are they getting ???
~ by jablkonosic 10/11/2007
Hold on...Doesn’t this make ”In Rainbows” the highest 24 hour sales tally for ANY album this year?
~ by moonscore 10/11/2007
payments for the discbox are instant. i had £40 deducted from my account on oct. 1.
~ by fpg 10/11/2007
I paid no money but i paid my dearest attention to their music. that counts right?
~ by lostatsea 10/11/2007
- as long as you get the physical release when it’s out in stores. :)
  ~ by Jay 10/11/2007
I think it’s great that this worked for Radiohead... and I couldn’t be happier with this album (can’t wait for the discbox!)... but I don’t like the idea of doing this for every artist. I like buying CDs, and I hope this doesn’t turn into a huge trend.
~ by JohnyJoe 10/11/2007
A lot of people will pay what they see as a fair price (about £7 say) for the download, and then buy the CD as well when it comes out next year, thereby buying the album twice! The fact that half of the songs are only available on the second CD will ensure that many people do buy it twice. Either that or they buy the discbox now, which requires you to buy vinyl that you wouldn’t bother with otherwise... This is not Radiohead being revolutionary. This is a clever marketing strate
~ by Arrrli 10/11/2007
- vinyl rocks, radiohead is bringing the wax back in 08.
  ~ by g 10/13/2007
Some of us dont own a credit card, so til the album is released in stores we have to go with paying 0. And i think radiohead already knew about that.
~ by Alex 10/11/2007
I download it for free, but just beacause I’m going to purchase the Discbox then. I’m just waiting. I think that is the most intelligent thing to do right now, and enjoy the amazing, beautiful, genius new record that Radiohead has done. Thank you, Radiohead
~ by Francisco 10/11/2007
This is the future of music, now! cheers, fellows!
~ by gnangle 10/11/2007
the average payment for this album was 8 dollars and zero cents according to good morning america today.
~ by Griffin 10/11/2007
15% of a regularly priced CD is about the equivalent of what the band would have received had they released it through a label.
~ by Valis 10/12/2007
Was anyone else excited when Kid A came out - purely for the COOL fold out and artwork behind the disc case? I paid nothing for the download, as I plan to buy the CD (complete with higher quality audio). I hope the CD release comes with at least some of the ’disc box’ stuff.. ie. 2CDs and cool art.
~ by Dan 10/12/2007
Everyone who bought the discbox basically bought the cd for everyone who payed very little for the download. That massive amount for the ’box balances it all out...
~ by Go NOw 10/12/2007
I earn OK money now, bought the discbox, i know what its like not to have 2 cents to rub together, i gusee i mean i dont mind subsidizing a few young broke radiohead fans. I’m already salivating about the second disc, i wonder when the discboxes will get to Australia. And yes, the plastic has already been debited.
~ by jo5ef 10/12/2007
Message to Smalrus et al - do you honestly think Radiohead are the only band in the world to be making amazing music? The only reason so many people know and love them is because they had (note, past tense) a MASSIVE record label behind them able to fund a two year global arena tour, all those videos, merchandise and releases. Where on earth do you think the money comes from? Yes they’re a great band but you live in a fantasy land if you think they could’ve done it on Rough Trade.
~ by AlexPanic 10/12/2007
- Didn’t they paid back to the Label trough all those years. I don’t think EMI done anything for Radiohead becouse they are a charitable institution it was bussines for both side.
  ~ by misiaczek 10/12/2007
I’m clearly the victor since I didn’t pay and don’t have to hear Thom Yorke whining or mumbling.
~ by Muffy 10/12/2007
I say thank you to Radiohead for this album, I only hope they come play in Boston again........SOON!!
~ by Jeb37 10/12/2007
radiohead is lovely.
~ by tom 10/12/2007
i for one do not feel obligated to pay for the album at all. i have paid for everything that they have put out that i could get my hands on. that includes all of their albums, 7 television commercials, meeting people is easy, and countless singles. if they give me the option now of paying nothing, i don’t feel guilty at all.
~ by plow 10/12/2007
I just want to add my 2 cents (4 p). As we can all see, Radiohead have accomplished exactly what they set out to do, not sell millions of albums, but start this whole discussion on what dollar value we put on art. Even if this is all a marketing ”thing”, it’s a start in a new direction, and I think all the old geezers heading major record labels need to clue in that there needs to be some kind of change. By the way I paid £3.95 (about $7.00 CDN)
~ by jjlee 10/12/2007
If I have learn anything about Radiohead over the late two decades, it is that they are less worried about money than the rest of us replying to this site. Is it possible they are trying to make an example? I think maybe so...
~ by Batanga 10/12/2007
Hard as it is to believe, there are probably people out there who aren’t huge Radiohead fans but would still like them enough to buy it if they only had to pay £1. This is one very awesome thing about the pay what you want policy, you can pay for how good you think they are/how much you like them (or how much you have for all the kids out there and what-not).
~ by Sam 10/12/2007
I can honestly say that the 5 pounds (a justifiable amount in my mind...my only reservation was with sound quality) I paid for the download was well worth it, considering the amount of enjoyment I’ve taken out of it. Plenty of bands deserve nothing for their music. Radiohead is obviously not in this category, and I would have paid more had it not been for 160 Kbps. I’ll have the physical release as well. If any band deserves my hard earned money, be it $10 or $82, it’s Radiohea
~ by C. Carroll 10/12/2007
I paid 90 pence. I am a diehard Radiohead fan since forever and I felt bad paying so little, but I just couldn’t afford more at the moment. However, I take some comfort in knowing that even though that’s only $2.75 American, that’s probably twice the amount they would receive in royalties from an album sold through a label. Also, I intend to buy the actual album in January.
~ by Bryce 10/12/2007
An outstanding album from the greatest band in the world. The album grows and grows. Those who are disappointed should have a little patience and keep listening. Not many bands can consistently produce outstanding music whilst evolving their sound with the times. Paid £5. Fair price, i think, considering no box and only 160kbps. Wish the bonus CD was also available to download.
~ by Jason 10/12/2007
it’s a sad society when people are willing to pay 50+ dollars a month for their cell phones, but when it comes to something as beautiful and brilliant as a Radiohead album they give less than a dollar.
~ by Roby 10/12/2007
- i totally agree. weird.
  ~ by tamara 10/12/2007
- If you could illegally download mobile phones then I’m sure they would be worth £1 instead of the current £50. Market forces are a curious thing...
  ~ by egog 10/14/2007
zappa would of loved these guys!
~ by mcutler 10/12/2007
it is all worth it ,they are the best band in the world
~ by Tim from n.y. 10/12/2007
I don’t have Real imagine Pound sterling
~ by Leo 10/12/2007
I paid 17 US and never received my download activation mail so I torrented the album and felt OK about my Computering.
~ by Jason 10/13/2007
I paid nothing.
~ by D 10/13/2007
I reward them with their monumental album. They worked hard for the album, and hard work does not deserved to go unrewarded, no matter how RICH they are. I decided to pay them 10 pounds for the album. It is well deserved, and being a musician myself, I would never want my music and my hard work to go unrewarded. It’s a great concept to pay what you want, And I am more than happy to pay them for this album. They deserve it.
~ by Cristiaan 10/13/2007
they are going to bank on this bigtime i paid 8 pounds for the thing and then ordered the discbox later when my paycheck posted, music industry execs are having dreams where thom yorke comes and eats their children...
~ by thepope 10/13/2007
Ahaha, everyone is completely missing the point, so what if people download it for free? radiohead are so massive, that all the hardcore fans will pay good money for it anyway, they’ve already made thier buck, if people only get it for free from now on, so what? doesn’t cost them any money at all, its digital, costs them bandwidth, so yes, download it for nothing, everyone do it! so that everyone in the western world can listen to this album! why not? BRING ON THE TOUR!
~ by Jake wieczorek 10/13/2007
- ...in the world, you mean!
  ~ by fra 10/29/2007
..think about whether you really ”love” music. By the way I paid a tenner and am not that overly impressed with it, but it’s worth every penny and I’m grateful for the chance to participate in this great experiment in art marketing
~ by Gavin 10/14/2007
I think that the hype and the creativity make people crazy about radiohead and also music and art cover which so beautiful. When people who downloaded In rainbows about 1 $ maybe can raised about 1.2 million dollar and still counting.
~ by Roni Pratomo Yudistian 10/15/2007
am from tunisia and maybe am the only one to be a RADIOHEAD’s fan, i payed NADA to download the New album, that’s due to the fact i dont have a credit card in my contry, whatever, its TUNISIA my pals. if i had one i would really pay £20, AM HONEST I SWEAR. I enjoy the their art in my car, my flat and while having a stroll. I DONT GET HOW PEOPLE LISTEN TO SH** music while RADIOHEAD are still here, i watch MTV,VH1 with the hope to watch a radiohead’s video clip to say there
~ by sofiene M'RAD 10/15/2007
I paid £10 but dont give a toss about the cost just the fantastic music another top album on a par with hail to the thief
~ by p.e.g 10/15/2007
i didnt pay for it at all. i downloaded it illegally and listened the shit out of it, but now i will pay $15 for it, because even if they are rich bastards, they are a band that actually deserves the money
~ by Typh 10/16/2007
RH I am sure are not concerned if you paid nothing or £7.99. Johnny said that he hoped people would stop and really think about what music is worth to them. It was an interesting examination none the less. I doubt that RH are rich. The people who pay 10p would not have paid for the album anyway and are ones who feel like they are entitled to something and deserve it. It only shows the conduct and character of those and how small they are. But I doubt it has even passed through RH mind.
~ by r 10/16/2007
i bought the boxset .. so my economy is -£40
~ by Platonist 10/16/2007
I paid £7
~ by matt 10/17/2007
Nice work, Radiohead. You are revolutionary...not only in music, but it the presentation of it.
~ by Mark from Tampa 10/17/2007
this is incredible. 1.2 million copies. awesome.
~ by musicbyday.com 10/18/2007
I only paid 2 pounds, cuz I thought HTTT was kinda weak and was wary. I’m so loving the album, tho, that I’m now going to buy the boxset.
~ by LikeSoy 10/18/2007
about 1/3 paid nothing...
~ by me 10/19/2007
Suitably reverent article. Did you swallow after such a good knob job for the band?
~ by EltonJ 10/20/2007
Reckoner/You can’t take it with you/Disavow the pleasure/ You were not to blame for/Bittersweet distractors/ Dare not speak his name/Dedicated to all you All your needs?/ Because we separate/it ripples our reflections/(in rainbows)/Because we separate/it ripples our reflections/ (in rainbows)/ Reckoner/ Dedicated to all you/All your needs?/
~ by reckoner/ 10/20/2007
I paid what I could afford...this genius idea allows their art to be shared by everyone which makes it far more accessible to those who don’t have $15 to spend on an album even though they are fans. This applies to college students who spread the word MUCH faster than any advertiser could--genius. But if those aren’t aware of Radiohead by now they are certainly missing out on something that has gone beyond music.
~ by melissa 10/30/2007

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