What do you expect to get when you give away free stuff ?
Ah Radiohead, one of my favorites bands ( or like the way I refer to them as God's Voice) this amazing and amusing british rock band was formed in 1985, in Abigdon Oxfordshire, Uk but it was until 1992 when they were know by the success of Creep, one of the singles of the debut album " Pablo Honey" with really introspective lyrics and great rock arrangements, they start to be well know around the world.
As time passes by, Radiohead experimented with new bits, creating a very unique sound, which became a seal on it's productions, it's second album was " The Bends" ( 1995), " Ok Computer" (1997 my favorite one), Kid (2000) and the one with most success in the United States, and Amnesiac (2001) in these two last productions, Radiohead play around with electronic music, creating fantastic singles as Idiotique and I might be wrong. So unique has been the music created by this band than Dj's asPaul Oakenfold and Tiesto had made a remix of theirs songs ( street spirit) Then, the last Production under EMI records was Hail to the Theif (2003) on this one, Radiohead allows itself to cry frustrations ( most likely artistic ones) talk about war as well their relationships with they former bosses ( myxomatosis ).
All albums combine have sold more than 25 millions copies, giving Radiohead the status of a seller and critical acclaimed band.
The things juts got better....
Radiohead released it's last album In rainbows (2007) as a digital download, with no record label, they took the unusual, risky and formidable step of " name you own price", fans where able to tag the last production or getting it for free ( there was a " transaction fee" of 0.10 dlls that was gonna be charge on you credit card but you were able to share or upload the production on a torrent site, so in a way you were able to get it for free and be complete legal ) later, due the fantastic success both in sales and critics, In rainbows, was released in cd format.
No official sales number have been provided by Radiohead, but so far, ( own it's words) has been it's more successful sold album.
Later on, singers like Madonna and Britney Spears said that they were trying to mimic this "name you own price" but such thing never was concreted, some say that record labels do not like this way of business ( direct sale from artist-fan) and created a lot of criticism, some of them from even colleagues like Lilly Allen which give her point of view that new bands cannot fit with that model, because they a contract to get money and be know, just as Radiohead begun but well, is not for me say if that's good or bad, but the implications of this mode of making money.
Applying what you know in real world ...... is it gonna work?
In Clayton, Mo. Panera Bread restaurant is implementing a very similar ideas as Radiohead, "get what you want, pay what you want", this franchise has more than 1.400 locations, with exactly the same menu, but there is one of these stores which has no prices, you as a costumer, can donate what ever amount of money you want"
This new store is located in the upscale St. Louis suburb of clayton, the clientele is broad array of attorneys, bankers, low income costumers whom work close of pass-byers.
This new restaurant is a pilot program and a non-profit organization and hopes if this can sustain itself Panera wants to recreate it's model around the States. The motto in the banner above the deli counter is " Take what you need, leave you fair share"
Panera is using it's nonprofit foundation to support the restaurant and any future location, this foundation will pay the new restaurant's bill, and all expenses; at the end of the month as well will tally the donations to see if it covers the food costs. The Panera company won't bear the looses if this experiment fails. (hope not) but there are been success in similar attempts, like the One World Salt Lake City restaurant that has been using this model since 2003.
I think, in a way, people realized and comprehend the value of things...
is this model the ultimate way to say to you clients...... I trust you ?
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