The Charlatans follow Radiohead’s example, fight labels, love free music
By Danny Mendez
The Charlatans have the right idea. Music isn’t about the money, and they get that. They plan to release their album for free on the web before making official CD and vinly packages. Though it’s unlikely the stunt will work the way it did for Radiohead, the move helps to free artists from the record labels’ squeezing grip.
You Cross My Path is the title of the band’s 10th album, which will be offered on March 3rd for free at the Xfm site. Two and a half months later, on May 19th, the band plans to release CD and vinyl packages to compliment the digital release.
Radiohead, if you don’t remember, pulled the same stunt with their latest album, In Rainbows, but the band asked downloaders to donate money before receiving the free music. While many opted out of paying, the band averaged about $6per album of pure profit that doesn’t get filtered by labels.
The Chalatans’ site is currently hush on whether they’ll ask users to donate before downloading, but it’s expected in this new, experimental, music distribution model. Though it may not be the band’s intention to fight "the labels", the move shows new and upcoming artists that they don’t need a record contract to make a living off music.
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