Radiohead gives "pay what you want" option to fans.

The times, they are a changin'

Many readers of this blog will of course be aware that indie band Radiohead have offered their new album 'In Rainbows' on pay-what-you want terms for download.

Are they creating a new music industry business model?

As a one-time big-spending retail customer who is now buying from iTunes and direct from the musicians, I'm in favour of this new model. My "active" music collection is already in mp3 format and to be quite honest I find very few albums -- like Radiohead's "OK Computer"i, Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" -- for which I need high quality sound. So why do I need to pay retail for a product format that doesn't add any value?

Here's my next question -- do we need to have "albums" at all any more? Is the "mp3 and media on request" model going to get us to a small 1-4 high quality track release from artists? Even my favourite artists don't often fill the entire album with gold.

Beatles to headline in Liverpool

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will pay tribute to their native city when Liverpool becomes European Capital of Culture next year.

The ex-Beatle will headline a June 1 concert for more than 30,000 people at Liverpool Football Club's Anfield stadium.

Starr — along with Eurythmics founder Dave Stewart and the Liverpool Symphony Orchestra — will lead the opening ceremony Jan. 12 with "Liverpool The Musical," a tribute to the city's musical heritage.

The Lord Bless you...

Tony Wilson funeral today.

Music mogul Anthony Wilson, the man behind bands such as Happy Mondays and New Order, died Aug. 10 from a heart attack. He was also battling kidney cancer. He was 57.

The impresario and TV host is credited with bringing the Manchester music scene to the world. His label, Factory Records, unleashed the sounds of Joy Division, Happy Mondays and New Order, earning him the moniker "Mr. Manchester."