Tibi Puiu
Earlier this week, we reported that [tag]Radiohead[/tag], through it’s former label EMI, is set to release a huge boxset that includes all of the pre-In Rainbows discography, on CDs, digital downloads, and a over-expensive flash USB stick, all ready to be boxed and shipped in time for Christmas. This came as a confusing move by the band and it’s management, as this boxed catalog is set to be released on the same day as the In Raninbows box set ships. Plus considering the pretty stiff price tag surrounding the catalog box set (~100$), in comparison with the previous freebie, makes me believe there’s something fishy going on. Well apparently the band didn’t have anything to do with this latest marketing plot, as it can be read bellow.
This was posted by a reader at Boing Boing:
“A publicity-shy reader writes, ‘I think people need to know that the band isn’t some greed machine. I can tell you with 100% certainty that EMI is putting out all those reissues without the band’s participation, blessing, permission or involvement at all. They are doing it as retribution for the band’s decision not to go with them in releasing the new album. Despite their contract being expired, EMI had been counting on the revenue from the forthcoming album. When the band put out the digital version of the album themselves, EMI threatened them with re-releasing their entire catalog on the same day the discbox of IN RAINBOWS was being sent out, Dec 10, unless the band gave EMI the standard physical release of the album. Of course the band/managers told EMI to piss off and were appalled that at such an important point in the band’s career that their former partners would do this to them.”
P4k made a bit of research and found out that indeed the box catalog wasn’t the band’s idea, but denied any band-label quarrels. EMI agreed that the box was a label initiative, and said that the band’s management was offered the opportunity to participate in the project, but politely declined. When asked about the coincidental release that, label officials said that there was no intent of competing with In Rainbows or provoking any maliciousness. And we’re supposed to believe that . . .
