Management 'came up with In Rainbows model'

A member of Radiohead's management has said that it came up with the pay-what-you-like distribution model for the band's last album In Rainbows.

The Oxford group's seventh studio album was originally available to download for a 45p transaction fee plus any extra fans felt the record was worth.

Brian Message of Courtyard Management told the Music Managers Forum in Dublin that the idea originated with the firm rather than the band, The Guardian reports.

Message said: "Two of my partners in the management company came up with the idea of pay what you like.

"Both the band and us were really excited about doing something brave and a bit wacky... we realised that by using the internet for the delivery of the album, we could reach 173 countries and it would cost us less than three cents a copy for distribution."

He added that he had suggested that the group break up before the release of the album after they struggled during recording.

"Radiohead are a once-in-a-generation act, but you have to be honest if it's not working. You have to have passion about what you do," he said.