The future of the music industry seems rooted in everything but the industry. This month has certainly showed how far that reality is after Radiohead's self-release of In Rainbows, the band's seventh album, as an internet-only download (for the time being). But Radiohead is not the only successful band to eschew the input of the music industry. Even before Radiohead's album became sensational news, fellow English band Oasis had announced the release of an internet-only single, "Lord Don't Slow Me Down," as a self-release as well.

Two examples may not seem threatening for an industry that has been around for decades, but when artists can self-release music as wide as these have been, the music industry certainly looks decrepit. A self-release always seemed to amount to nothing more than an underground tape, or a limited pressing, but with the internet and the "efficiency" it has over the music industry, that just is not the case anymore. These two examples (and many other cases not mentioned here) are important because artists do not need the industry anymore.

What remains to ask is if we, as consumers, need the industry anymore? It's too early to give a well-educated answer to that, especially as many of the big artists are still "controlled" by the industry. This should not sound as a industry blast either, because despite the decline that seems to be occurring, the music business still offers a number of products and offers that are entertaining and wanted. At this point, we need the industry and that may never change. What will change hopefully is the way the music industry operates.

If the industry could make is all more accessible, then there would be no question between paying less for an album in ten days versus waiting three months for an overpriced CD.

Following the excitement and intrigue surrounding English band Radiohead's announcement earlier this week about the quick release of their seventh studio album In Rainbows next week, the band's spokesman is now denying that it will also be released via a major label in December. According to the Billboard report, British retailer HMV had listed a pre-order for a CD version of the album on its website with EMI Group PLC label Parlophone for December 3, the same date the self-released "discbox" will be released to fans who pre-ordered on the band's website.

Radiohead was previously signed to EMI with their first six albums distributed by Parlophone in the UK and Capitol Records in the United States, but that deal ended after the release of their 2003 album Hail to the Thief. The band's spokesman reported to Billboard that "the band had not re-signed to Parlophone, EMI or any other label" for the new album, emphasizing that any release would not be ready by the December 3 date on HMV. The spokesman did affirm that the band is talking to music labels about releasing the album, but that would come after the new year.

The announcement earlier this week spurred a storm of internet blogging, including BloggingStocks, and a spokesperson for HMV commented that the listing was due to "an over-enthusiastic member of staff" but it would be modified to remove the label and the date. The biggest development of the announcement was that fans could set their own price for the download version next week, but some bloggers found that there was a limit of £99.99 (about $205), but most fans are likely to go for much lower prices. Many are already calling the tactic of removing the labels from distribution a success, but it is too early to speculate whether any other band will follow Radiohead's lead. Maybe the labels will catch on and work with artists in the future for the benefit of fans, but that is just too wishful.