Easy choice.

Record companies are the real pirates. You pay $20 for a CD. The record companies claim that downloading rips the artists off. However, the average band makes about 75 cents per CD sold while the record company makes about $5.50. Radiohead's idea for distributing it themselves is brilliant. Lets say everyone pays a dollar for 'In Rainbows'. Wow. Sounds like nothing, but they made more money than they would have had you bought it for $20. The record company/artist relationship, if you can call it that, sounds more like mob extortion than a legitimate business relationship. And how do the record companies react? By suing their customers for hundreds of thousands of dollars they dont have. Need I make another reference to the mob?

If you want to know what some more math looks like read these articles:

http://dir.salon.com/story/tech/feature/2000/06/14/love/index.html

http://www.negativland.com/albini.html

http://www.downhillbattle.org/reasons/

Radiohead are pioneering, much like their music has, on behalf of the rest of us artists. They have always allowed free taping and distribution of their live work which has allowed me to share their art with more people that I can possibly count. Radioheads music and actions continue to be inspiring. I happily paid $82 US dollars and will continue to support this band and other true artists.

Good music needs to be supported.

Forty pounds is an absurdly low price for two albums, two vinyl records and custom-made artwork.

Bought the box only because I don't trust mp3's and love the analogue. I must now find a way to purchase their other lp's on vinyl without killing my bank account.

I'm very happy with the record. I expected to hear something like this, a little more expermental, not like HTTT. I'm waiting for my diskbox and don't regret for any pence I paid, this will be great. The artwork in rh albums is fantastic and this wont be the exception.

worth every penny

The discbox is the future. People will pay extra for a great 'must have' quality release rather than the 4 thin-page CD in a flimsy jewel case.

if i was only buying the download, i think £5 is a fair price for the album.

Discbox. Is everyone on here aware that if they buy the discbox, they get the download for free?

The more I think about this marketing model, the better it seems. All the cheap scrotes paying pennies for it are the kind of people who'd nick the album off a mate anyway - so they lose zero sales. And proper fans know the money they do decide to pay goes to the band.

Be absolutely fascinating to find out how much the 'Head make from this.

Genius idea. They'll probably make more than most bands who put their album out through a label, despite thousands of people taking the piss by paying nothing for it.

i chose to order the discbox, because i wanted the real thing. the band is a huge inspiration and worth every penny... i love their artwork as well, so the discbox has to be a must-have to me ;)