Editing Radiohead (section)

=== 2006–2009: departure from EMI, ''In Rainbows'', and "pay what you want" ===

Radiohead began work on their seventh album in February 2005.<ref name="HERE" /> Instead of involving Godrich, Radiohead hired the producer [[Spike Stent]], but the collaboration was unsuccessful.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Vozick-Levinson |first1=Simon |date=27 April 2012 |title=The Making of Radiohead's ''In Rainbows'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-making-of-radioheads-in-rainbows-187534/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730031338/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-making-of-radioheads-in-rainbows-187534/ |archive-date=30 July 2019 |access-date=30 July 2019}}</ref> In September 2005, Radiohead contributed "I Want None of This", a piano [[dirge]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/2097-help-a-day-in-the-life/ |title=Various Artists: Help: A Day in the Life Album Review {{!}} Pitchfork|last=Plagenhoef|first=Scott|date=11 September 2005|website=Pitchfork|language=en|access-date=13 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109180938/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/2097-help-a-day-in-the-life/|archive-date=9 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> for the [[War Child (charity)|War Child]] charity album ''[[Help!: A Day in the Life|Help: A Day in the Life]]''. The album was sold online, with "I Want None of This" the most downloaded track, though it was not released as a single.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4238542.stm |title=Rush to download War Child album |date=12 September 2005|access-date=19 October 2007 |newspaper=BBC News}}</ref> In late 2006, after touring Europe and North America with new material, Radiohead re-enlisted Godrich and resumed work in London, Oxford and rural [[Somerset]], England.<ref>{{cite news |title=Radiohead: Exclusive Interview |last=Marshall |first=Julian |date=2 October 2007 |newspaper=NME}}</ref> Recording ended in June 2007 and the recordings were mastered the following month.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 July 2007 |title=Radiohead mastering seventh album in New York |newspaper=[[NME]] |url=https://www.nme.com//news/radiohead/29715 |url-status=live |access-date=19 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414123718/http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/29715 |archive-date=14 April 2016}}</ref>

In 2007, EMI was acquired by the [[private equity]] firm [[Terra Firma Capital Partners|Terra Firma]]. Radiohead were critical of the new management, and no new deal was agreed.<ref name="observer12">{{cite news |author=McLean, Craig |date=9 December 2007 |title=Caught in the flash |work=[[The Observer]] |location=London |url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,2222276,00.html|url-status=live|access-date=1 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220030505/http://music.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,2222276,00.html|archive-date=20 February 2008}}</ref> The [[The Independent|''Independent'']] reported that EMI had offered Radiohead a £3 million advance, but had refused to relinquish rights to the band's back catalogue. An EMI spokesman stated that Radiohead had demanded "an extraordinary amount of money".<ref name="Rajan-2007">{{Cite news |last=Rajan |first=Amol |date=29 December 2007 |title=EMI split blamed on Radiohead's £10m advance demands |language=en-GB |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/emi-split-blamed-on-radioheads-pound10m-advance-demands-767248.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616141638/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/emi-split-blamed-on-radioheads-pound10m-advance-demands-767248.html |archive-date=16 June 2018}}</ref> Radiohead's management and Yorke released statements denying that they had asked for a large advance, but had instead wanted control over their back catalogue.<ref name="Rajan-2007" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |title='Nude' Radiohead Video Hits Web, EMI Airs Dirty Laundry |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nude-radiohead-video-hits-web-thom-yorke-responds-to-emis-airing-of-dirty-laundry-20080102|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616130306/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nude-radiohead-video-hits-web-thom-yorke-responds-to-emis-airing-of-dirty-laundry-20080102|archive-date=16 June 2018}}</ref>

Radiohead self-released their seventh album, ''[[In Rainbows]]'', on their website on 10 October 2007 as a [[Music download|download]], for any amount users wanted, including £0. The landmark [[pay-what-you-want]] release, the first for a major act, made headlines worldwide and created debate about the implications for the music industry.<ref name="nytimespay">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/arts/music/09pare.html?ex=1354856400&en=ec2f1c29937292be&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all |title=Pay What You Want for This Article|access-date=30 December 2007 |author=Pareles, Jon|author-link=Jon Pareles |date=9 December 2007 |work=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212152701/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/arts/music/09pare.html?ei=5090&en=ec2f1c29937292be&ex=1354856400&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all|archive-date=12 December 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> Media reaction was positive, and Radiohead were praised for finding new ways to connect with fans.<ref>{{cite news |author=Paytress, Mark |title=Chasing Rainbows |date=1 January 2008 |work=Mojo}}</ref><ref name="Tyrangiel, Josh">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1666973,00.html |title=Radiohead Says: Pay What You Want |author=Tyrangiel, Josh |date=1 October 2007 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=16 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827171043/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1666973,00.html|archive-date=27 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, it drew criticism from musicians such as [[Lily Allen]] and [[Kim Gordon]], who felt it undercut less successful acts.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=14 November 2007 |title=Lily Allen, Oasis, Gene Simmons Criticize Radiohead's 'Rainbows' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lily-allen-oasis-gene-simmons-backlash-against-radioheads-rainbows-20071114 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425211901/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lily-allen-oasis-gene-simmons-backlash-against-radioheads-rainbows-20071114 |archive-date=25 April 2014 |access-date=14 March 2014 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Thill |first=Scott |date=8 July 2009 |title=Sonic Youth Slams Radiohead's In Rainbows Model |url=https://www.wired.com/2009/06/sonic-youth-slams-radioheads-in-rainbows-model/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005152018/https://www.wired.com/2009/06/sonic-youth-slams-radioheads-in-rainbows-model/ |archive-date=5 October 2017 |access-date=4 June 2017 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]}}</ref>

''In Rainbows'' was downloaded an estimated 1.2&nbsp;million times on the day of release.<ref name="tour">{{cite magazine |last=Brandle |first=Lars |title=Radiohead Returning to the Road in 2008 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard.com]] |date=18 October 2007 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1047969/radiohead-returning-to-the-road-in-2008|access-date=21 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208234628/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1047969/radiohead-returning-to-the-road-in-2008|archive-date=8 February 2008}}</ref> Colin Greenwood explained the internet release as a way of avoiding the "regulated playlists" and "straitened formats" of radio and TV, ensuring fans around the world could experience the music at the same time, and preventing leaks in advance of a physical release.<ref>[[Colin Greenwood|Greenwood, Colin]] (13 September 2010), "[http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2010/09/radiohead-copyright-freespeech-music/ Set Yourself Free] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105045102/https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2010/09/radiohead-copyright-freespeech-music/|date=5 November 2015}}", Index on Censorship. Retrieved 31 October 2010</ref> A special "discbox" edition of ''In Rainbows'', containing the record on vinyl, a book of artwork, and a CD of extra songs, was also sold from Radiohead's website.<ref name="INRAINBOWSYHOO">{{cite news |last=Grossberg |first=Josh |title=Fans Shortchanging Radiohead's Rainbows? |newspaper=[[E! Online]] |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/56660/fans-shortchanging-radiohead-s-rainbows |date=6 November 2007|access-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629211729/https://www.eonline.com/news/56660/fans-shortchanging-radiohead-s-rainbows|archive-date=29 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The retail version of ''In Rainbows'' was released in the UK in late December 2007 on [[XL Recordings]] and in North America in January 2008 on [[TBD Records]],<ref name="INRAINBOWSYHOO" /> reaching number one in the UK and in the US.<ref>{{cite news |last=Griffiths |first=Peter |title=Radiohead top album chart |work=Reuters |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL063195120080106 |date=6 January 2008|access-date=7 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503032551/http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL063195120080106|archive-date=3 May 2009|url-status=dead}}<br />{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Jonathan |title=Radiohead Nudges Blige From Atop Album Chart |newspaper=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046867/radiohead-nudges-blige-from-atop-album-chart |date=9 January 2008|access-date=9 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212015339/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046867/radiohead-nudges-blige-from-atop-album-chart|archive-date=12 February 2008}}</ref> The success was Radiohead's highest chart placement in the US since ''Kid A''. It became their fifth UK number-one album and sold more than three million copies in one year.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/radiohead/inrainbows |title=Radiohead: In Rainbows (2007): Reviews|access-date=6 November 2007 |journal=[[Metacritic]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107114044/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/radiohead/inrainbows|archive-date=7 November 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> The album received acclaim for its more accessible sound and personal lyrics.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |title=Radiohead Publishers Reveal "In Rainbows" Numbers |newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=15 October 2008 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/10/15/radiohead-publishers-reveal-in-rainbows-numbers/|access-date=7 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018150410/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/10/15/radiohead-publishers-reveal-in-rainbows-numbers/|archive-date=18 October 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was nominated for the [[Mercury Music Prize]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.idiomag.com/peek/35718/radiohead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102090138/http://www.idiomag.com/peek/35718/radiohead |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 January 2009 |title=Radiohead News – 2008 Mercury Music Prize Nominees Announced|access-date=12 September 2008 |date=24 July 2008 |publisher=Idiomag.com}}</ref> and won the [[2009 Grammy Awards|2009 Grammy awards]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album|Best Alternative Music Album]] and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package. It was nominated for five other Grammy awards, including Radiohead's third nomination for [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Grammy Awards 2009: British artists dominate Los Angeles ceremony |first=Caroline |last=Hedley |date=9 February 2009|access-date=11 February 2009 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/4566240/Grammy-Awards-2009-British-artists-dominate-Los-Angeles-ceremony.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212102103/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/4566240/Grammy-Awards-2009-British-artists-dominate-Los-Angeles-ceremony.html|archive-date=12 February 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Yorke and Jonny Greenwood performed "[[15 Step]]" with the [[Spirit of Troy|University of Southern California Marching Band]] at the televised award show.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Amrit |date=9 September 2009 |title=The 2009 Grammys: Just The Good Parts |work=[[Stereogum]] |url=https://www.stereogum.com/51301/the_2009_grammys_just_the_good_parts/video/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927050317/https://www.stereogum.com/51301/the_2009_grammys_just_the_good_parts/video/ |archive-date=27 September 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Radiohead France 2008.jpg|thumb|Radiohead performing at the 2008 Main Square Festival in Arras, France]]
The first single from ''In Rainbows'', "[[Jigsaw Falling into Place]]", was released in January 2008,<ref>{{cite news |title=Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' to be released on CD this year |date=8 November 2007 |newspaper=NME |url=https://www.nme.com//news/radiohead/32393|access-date=19 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121025651/http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/32393|archive-date=21 November 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> followed by "[[Nude (song)|Nude]]" in March,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com//news/radiohead/35076 |title=Radiohead announce new single details |date=12 March 2008 |magazine=[[NME]]|access-date=12 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314012342/http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/35076|archive-date=14 March 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> which debuted at number 37 in the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]; it was Radiohead's first song to enter the chart since "High and Dry" (1995) and their first US top 40 since "Creep".<ref name="BILL" /> In July, Radiohead released a digitally shot video for "[[House of Cards (Radiohead song)|House of Cards]]".<ref>{{cite news |last=Dodson |first=Sean |date=17 July 2008 |title=Is Radiohead the latest band to go open source? |work=The Guardian |location=UK |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/jul/17/opensource.google|url-status=live|access-date=27 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209210809/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/jul/17/opensource.google|archive-date=9 February 2015}}</ref> Radiohead held [[remix]] competitions for "Nude" and "[[Reckoner]]", releasing the separated [[Stem (audio)|stems]] for fans to remix.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/09/radiohead-launc-2/ |title=Radiohead Launches Easier, Less Expensive Remix Contest |magazine=WIRED|access-date=20 October 2018 |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020182052/https://www.wired.com/2008/09/radiohead-launc-2/|archive-date=20 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2008, Radiohead launched Waste Central, a [[social networking service]] for Radiohead fans.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hannaford |first=Katherine |date=7 April 2008 |title=Radiohead launches social networking site for gossip about Thom's hair, Waste-Central |url=http://www.techdigest.tv/2008/04/theyve_already.html |access-date=18 February 2015 |website=[[Tech Digest]] |publisher=}}</ref> In May, [[VH1]] broadcast ''[[In Rainbows – From the Basement]]'', a special episode of the music television show ''[[From the Basement]]'' in which Radiohead performed songs from ''In Rainbows''. It was released on [[iTunes]] in June.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2 July 2008 |title=Radiohead Rake in Praise From Bono, Release 'From the Basement' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/06/24/radiohead-rake-in-praise-from-bono-release-from-the-basement/ |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702173304/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/06/24/radiohead-rake-in-praise-from-bono-release-from-the-basement/ |archive-date=2 July 2008 |access-date=30 December 2016}}</ref> From mid-2008 to early 2009, Radiohead toured North America, Europe, Japan and South America to promote ''In Rainbows'', and headlined the [[Reading and Leeds Festivals]] in August 2009.<ref name="tour" /><ref>{{cite web |date=30 March 2009 |title=Reading and Leeds 2009 line-up |url=https://www.nme.com//news/readingleeds-festival/43738 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209184737/http://www.nme.com/news/readingleeds-festival/43738 |archive-date=9 February 2015 |access-date=28 September 2014 |work=[[NME]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1069354 |title=Radiohead, por primera vez en Buenos Aires |date=13 November 2008 |newspaper=La Nación|access-date=14 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309194147/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1069354|archive-date=9 March 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

Days after Radiohead signed to XL, EMI announced a [[Radiohead Box Set|box set of Radiohead material]] recorded before ''In Rainbows'', released in the same week as the ''In Rainbows'' special edition. Commentators including the ''Guardian'' saw the move as retaliation for the band choosing not to re-sign with EMI.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/nov/08/emi.musicindustry |title=EMI stab Radiohead in the back catalogue |last=Nestruck |first=Kelly |date=8 November 2007 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en|access-date=17 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117193325/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/nov/08/emi.musicindustry|archive-date=17 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2008, EMI released a [[greatest hits]] album, ''[[Radiohead: The Best Of]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Radiohead to release 'Best Of' compilation |url=https://www.nme.com//news/radiohead/35609 |work=NME |location=UK |date=3 April 2008|access-date=3 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404000759/http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/35609|archive-date=4 April 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> It was made without Radiohead's involvement and contains only songs recorded under their contract with EMI. Yorke was critical of the release, calling it a "wasted opportunity".<ref>{{cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |date=9 May 2008 |title=Yorke slams Radiohead ''Best Of'' LP |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a95605/yorke-slams-radiohead-best-of-lp.html?rss |access-date=27 September 2008 |work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref> As [[social media]] expanded around the turn of the decade, Radiohead gradually withdrew their public presence, with no promotional interviews or tours to promote new releases. ''Pitchfork'' wrote that around this time Radiohead's "popularity became increasingly untethered from the typical formalities of record promotion, placing them on the same level as [[Beyoncé]] and [[Kanye West]]".<ref name="Curious Case" />