Radiohead's 2007 album In Rainbows has enjoyed critical and commercial success since it was released last October through a unique "pay-what-you-want" scheme directly from the band and its management team. Likewise, many fellow artists have come out in favor of the scheme or against the method used by the English band. Fellow English band Oasis, however, has completely dismissed any notion that the band will ever duplicate that method, citing expenses incurred during the recording of new album Dig Out Your Soul over the course of the past year.

A new report by Gigwise reveals the band's position and reasons for it, with Oasis calling the Radiohead method nothing more than a marketing tool. Noel Gallagher, Oasis' lead songwriter and guitarist, did call Radiohead "rebels and outsiders" when commending Radiohead's method as a unique marketing tool.

Oasis signed a new deal with Sony BMG Music Entertainment, a joint venture between Sony Corporation (NYSE: SNE) and Germany's Bertelsmann Music Group, last month that will see the band's own label, Big Brother Recordings, release the new album while Sony BMG oversees the band's back catalog and previous releases. The deal is a more traditional arrangement in today's market and environment that makes the new comments against Radiohead unsurprising.

British band Oasis have reportedly signed a new record deal with Sony BMG Music Entertainment via the band's own record label Big Brother Recordings. Big Brother will release the band's new material while Sony BMG, a joint venture of Sony (NYSE: SNE) and Germany's Bertlesmann Media Group, handles distribution of the new album and the band's back catalog in all markets, and the two companies will share profits. Music newspaper NME additionally reports that all signs indicate the first album as part of the new arrangement will be released this fall.

The band has been associated with Sony BMG in some form or another since its first album was released in 1994. Creation Records, the band's first label in the United Kingdom, handled distribution and release there, while Sony handled the same duties in other markets, including the United States. When Creation folded in the late 90s and Big Brother was set up, the same arrangement was kept. The band's last album of new material was released in the U.S. by Sony BMG's Epic Records, while the band's final album under the old contract, a "best of" compilation, was released by Columbia Records.

Oasis' management reported that the band is excited about the deal and the prospects that it gives the band in "building on the band's already considerable international success." The band's management reported that the new deal "allows the band to take advantage of all the opportunities presented by the new business models available today as well as remaining totally in control of their own destiny." Other band's at the same level of international success as Oasis, like Radiohead or Nine Inch Nails, have pursued different business methods than more traditional record labels.

Although the band has only recently started working on a new album, Oasis front man Liam Gallagher told Billboard yesterday the band would not follow in Radiohead's footsteps and release its new work to fans for any price. According to the singer, it would be over his "dead body" before the band took a similar tactic, especially considering how "hard he works." That sentiment did not prevent the band from releasing a download-only single last month, which peaked at #10 in the UK Singles Chart.

Like Radiohead though, Oasis is without a record contract, having fulfilled obligations to Sony BMG with the release of 2005's Don't Believe the Truth. According to the same news report, the band is following a similar structure and schedule recording the new album, working with the same producer, Dave Sardy and enjoying contributions from all band members. Prior to Don't Believe the Truth, lead guitarist Noel Gallagher, Liam's older brother, was the primary songwriter and contributor. The new album, as yet untitled, is expected for release late next summer.

As with Radiohead, Oasis will enjoy a similar freedom with this release when it is ready next year. The band may not take the same route releasing it or giving fans more access, but expect the members to sign with a label that allows them to retain control over their work. The downside, of course, is that the situation both bands are in is truly only accessible to bands as famous and as popular as they are. With the changes they promote though, hopefully that tendency will drop off as the music industry is checked and questioned.