Radiohead continues to take its own music industry path, with the news this morning that the U.S. release of its seventh album, In Rainbows, will come through a record label set up by the band -- TBD Records. As previously reported, the album will arrive at the very end of 2007 in international markets, with the U.S. release date two days later on January 2. (Please see my comment for updated status of this information.)

Of course, In Rainbows is more famous already for the stir it created when Radiohead announced in early October that the album would be available as a download-only for the time being. Fans who passed on the download will now have their chance to buy the CD. A spokesperson told Billboard that the meaning of TBD is attributable to the fact that the band and ATO Records, who are distributing the release "ran into trouble in trying to clear all previously discussed potential label names." Although it seems clear that a reference to the moniker "to be determined" would not be too far off the mark.

Radiohead may have been taking revolutionary steps with the release of In Rainbows so far, but this move is nothing new. Bands since the 1960s have created their own record labels: The Beatles and Apple Records, The Rolling Stones and their creative Rolling Stones Records label. Even their 1990s brethren have started labels to manage their own music -- Oasis started Big Brother Recordings in 2000. At least Radiohead is taking the necessary measures to keep control of their music and their label, or so it seems. The Beatles and the Stones may have not had issues with EMI managing their material, but Oasis has reportedly been unhappy with Sony BMG's control over its music and label.

In addition to the losses incurred by Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG) during the first quarter of 2007, the Island Def Jam Music Group has been carrying out layoffs this week according to Billboard.com. The Billboard article states that some of the officials are national directing staff, while others are members of internal creative and production departments. The biggest layoff though is the "Roc La Familia" staff, responsible for the international promotions of the company, according to the report. Island Def Jam is a member of the Universal Music Group, a subsidiary of the French Vivendi corporation (Euronext:VIV).

Though the rumored loss of 40 individuals is nowhere near the 400 lost by Warner, the fact that a second situation is developing so soon seems ominous for the record industry. It's also a notable move so soon after the re-establishment of historic Mercury Records as a new division within the group (that occurred on April 25). Mercury Records had existed prior to 1998, when it was absorbed by Island Records as a result of Polygram (it's former owner) became a part of Universal.

Both of these cases, with Warner as well, could be signs that either a major shift is on the horizon, or that music sales are slipping entirely. Unfortunately, the good news that accompanied Warner is not being repeated for Island Def Jam and the digital promotion departments are not being beefed up, at least not in these early rumors.