Free Radiohead Remix Album Hits Buffers Over Legal Issues

The release of the free Radiohead ‘In Rainbows’ remix album by producer Amplive has hit the buffers after the Oxford band’s publishers called for a halt to the release.

The eight track album, titled ‘Rainydayz Remixes’, featuring unique interpretations of tracks was due to be released on January 10 on the condition that fans forwarded their email receipt of purchase of ‘In Rainbows’ from W.A.S.T.E.

Publishers Warner/Chappell sent a ‘cease and desist’ letter on December 18 to Amplive’s label, 1776, saying that he had created “musical arrangements and remixes” without formal agreement from the publishers. Therefore Amplive is unable to proceed without the permission of either the band (who own the songs’ copyright) or their publishers.

Amplive himself has posted both a video and written letter stating his disappointment that he’s unable to release the album indefinitely. He says that he is a huge Radiohead fan and that the album was meant as a “celebration” of what he believes in a genius work.

‘Rainydayz’ not only features Amplive’s input, but also select verses from Del the Funky Homosapien, Chali2na from Jurassic 5, soul singer Codany Holiday, and K.Flay on four of the tracks.

The track-listing on the release was due to be:

1. Rainydayz
2. Video Tapez (ft. Del the Funkee Homosapien)
3. Nudez (ft. MC Zumbi of Zion I and Too Short)
4. Weird Fishez
5. All I Need
6. 15 Stepz (ft. Codany Holiday)
7. Reckonerz (ft. Chali2na)
8. Faustz

His video and written response is as follows:

First and foremost I would like to thank everyone who has been digging my remixes. I put a lot of time and hard work into them and I am glad people are appreciating them. I was especially excited about the exclusive verses I was able to get from Del the Funky Homosapien, Chali2na from Jurassic 5, the soul singer Codany Holiday, and K.Flay, who were all also super excited about contributing to the project. I really feel if Radiohead’s team was able to hear these remaining remixed songs, they would feel differently. So I am writing this letter to ask that if you have any post/streams/mp3s of the songs from Rainydayz Remixes that you remove them immediately. Complying with the cease and desist, these remixes can’t be publicly distributed or made commercially available. Even though I was offering them for free in conjunction with the In Rainbows download and had good intentions because of my appreciation for their music, the powers that may be are not seeing it the same way. Hopefully I can find a way for Radiohead to support this FREE release made available only to those who purchased their album. For now I am cooperating with the “C & D” only because it has come from Radiohead’s team and I will respect that. BUT if that changes I am happy to resume my release plans. Again, I appreciate your support in posting them, but because of the situation at this time, it is illegal. Thanks for you help. - Amp Live