LONDON - Rock band Radiohead has ended weeks of speculation by confirming it has struck a deal with indie label XL Recordings for the physical release of its new album, In Rainbows, which fans can buy on the internet for a price of their own choosing.
The dealis expected to cover territories outside North America, leaving the band free to sign a separate deal there, but no further details have yet been made available.
A release date for the physical CD also has not been given, but sources suggest it will coincide with the December 3 arrival of the "discbox" edition of In Rainbows available only from Radiohead.com. Others speculate it may not appear until next year.
Radiohead broke the industry rule book it they made In Rainbows available for download October 10, with fans able to name their own price. No sales figures have been released, but the band's manager Bryce Edge told Billboard recently that reports of 1.2 million were "exaggerated." The band was previously signed to EMI.
London-based XL, which operates under the umbrella of the Beggars Group, last year released Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke's critically lauded solo album, The Eraser. Other artists on the roster include the White Stripes and Devendra Banhart.
