Random thoughts on music news.

1.  First off, Thom Yorke of Radiohead has decided that the music business is folding - and fast.  Radiohead had a very successful release of their last album, In Rainbows, digitally - and at whatever price you felt like paying for the album.  (I paid a sufficient sum for the record - and it is one of their finest.)  Because of that, he's now claiming that the whole business is going to go under within a few months:

"[It'll be] only a matter of time,"Yorke says. "Months rather than years before the music business establishment completely folds." 

Advising aspiring musicians not to tie themselves to such a "sinking ship", Yorke adds that the fall of the music business will be "no great loss to the world".

 That's fine and dandy for him to say, but the fact of the matter is that Radiohead succeeded in digital self-release because they are a well-known act with multiple platinum releases to their name.  I don't think upstarts are quite ready for that - nor do I think that the music industry gigantor, for all its hideousness, is that ready to die.

No matter how bad it is.


2.  If music IS dying (and sales point to yes, at least as far as physical media goes), there is at least one shade of silver to that cloud - the Melvins broke the top 200 for the first time in their storied career.  It wasn't a huge sell for them, and not even their best first week - but hey, this is The Melvins.  They should've broken it every time they've sold a thing, so just smile and be happy for them.


3.  More evidence to the continuing of awesome music - Sufjan Stevens is FINALLY following up 2005's amazing, mind-blowing Illinois.  And he's not doing it alone - apparently he's been hard at work with The National.  Word is, it sounds like nothing Sufjan's ever done before - but if my favorite indie artist is working with one of my favorite indie bands, this can only end in piles of awesome.  [/hipster]