The way we get our music has been changing for the past decade now. The internet has been whacking up the way entertainment suit heads make their money ever since Al Gore "invented" it. Or at least since Napster came and went while angering silly bald drummers in washed up metal bands (*cough* METALLICA *cough*).

But just because the music industry is selling about 1/10 the amount of CDs that were sold in the mid to late 90s when NSync and Limp Bizkit could push millions of records by the week, doesn't mean there are less people listening to music. If anything, the internet has saved music, put some wholesome grain back into the recipe. It's just not easy for suits to get rich off it anymore, that's all.

Proof that music still matters? Radiohead have become nearly as famous for refusing to get in bed with record labels or anything corporate (won't find 'em on iTunes) as for their constant re-invention with each brilliant release of cryptic arty ambient rock. They unveiled their new record, "In Rainbows" last week in it's entirety to the internet, months before it will see a proper physical release. This isn't a new idea, but here's the catch.

They aren't asking for any money. Listeners get to actually NAME their price. Take it for free, legally, or get it for 2 bucks so you don't feel guilty, or buy it for a grand, which someone actually did. You, the listener put the value on what you're listening to. How about that?

But the awesome news is that the album had reportedly been downloaded by 1.2 million internetters in less than a week. All without any radio or TV promotion. Word had gotten out through the usual online music sites and rock rags, especially in the music blog world, where bloggers had been drooling for the new Radiohead for well over a year now. Take that corporate America!

Radiohead have probably made more money on this album than their previous albums already, because one common misconception of the music biz is where artists make their money. It's off touring and merch mostly, not actual albums. That goes to the labels for the most part. But at this point, Radiohead are sailing on their own boat on their own water, without any record label flags or motors. So who needs a label in this current day in age when you can record music on your own computer, and then release it like this? Labels put music in a box, Radiohead are throwing it out of the box.

Do you think we'll see more releases like this in the future? I don't think there will be a day when record labels and CD releases are gone altogether, but I think the music business needs to realize that their days of getting rich off artists' words, voices, and emotions are numbered. The internet and rock n' roll are two of the most American things in the entire world, if you ask me. Both are pure democracy. Anyone can get anything off the internet. And anyone can be a rockstar, talent or not. The joining of both is the sort of thing that would make our founding fathers proud. Thomas Jefferson is wailing around and air-guitaring somewhere right now to "Bodysnatchers" ("In Rainbows") on George Washington's computer in Heaven.

I highly recommend you give Radiohead's "In Rainbows" a shot. What you got to lose? Get it at their website.