The antiquated "compact disc" version of Radiohead's In Rainbows went on sale in the US on January 1 - and has topped the charts. It sold 122,000 copies to do so.
This means something. Not sure what, but it definitely MEANS SOMETHING. Something important.
It could mean that Radiohead fans are mental and will re-buy albums in whatever format they come in just to complete their obsessively maintained collections. It could mean that physical music will never die. It could mean lots of people in America don't trust or know about the internet.
Or perhaps people just like having a physical thing with some pretty artwork on it and the names of the songs you're listening to clearly displayed. It is also a much better thing to give to someone as a birthday present than a folder of MP3s or a CD you burned yourself.
It could also mean that there are people out there who just prefer having a CD kicking about in the lounge. A CD that can then be put in the car, or replayed in the bedroom in the dark when you're feeling sad.
What it definitely does mean, though, is that Radiohead is raking in loads of money yet again from In Rainbows' second-wave of sales. Pool/toga party at Thom Yorke's house tonight, everyone!
(Via Yahoo!)
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It means that having something physical to hold in your hands with artwork to flip through and lyrics and credits and thank-you notes is still important. It means that cds still offer the most flexibility with the highest sound quality- play it in your car AND rip it onto your ipod. It means that many Radiohead fans really like vinyl. It means that many people didn't pay for their download because they were waiting to buy it on cd.
But what it really means? Most of all?
It means that record labels can't blame illegal downloading for all of their problems, when the real cause is years of bad music no one likes being forced on an increasingly frustrated and apathetic public.