Just downloaded Radiohead’s “In Rainbows” from their site. You can download DRM-free tracks (160kbps, so pretty good sounding) for whatever you want to pay. So, while they’re not technically giving it away, I think they’re really on the right track as far as music goes. They’re letting the fans have the music with the understanding that the fans will support them…

I think this means the music industry is passing away. That’s a good thing. Music is finally going to be back in the hands of the artists and the fans, and control by marketing teams and advertising “gurus” will be all but eliminated. I’m hoping music will be good and pure and available. Everyone from Billy Joel to the dude on the corner with the saxaphone and the hat full of change should be able to put out whatever they want - and not have to worry about the consequences of pleasing their label.

And so FreakinAsheville and FreakinUniverse. It’s free - it’ll always be free. Both literally and figuratively. We want to give it away, and we know that it’ll support us. It’s our platform to have fun and express ourselves - and we want to give that ability away, too.

So - enjoy. Go grab some good tunes (oh yeah - it’s a good record, too) and make something cool today.