Radiohead continues to embrace file sharing, this time for charity

Radiohead has embraced Peer to Peer file sharing once again, this time offering the “For Haiti” DVD boxset to music fans with an interesting proposal attached. The performance can be downloaded for free online, donations suggestions, with all the proceeds going to a charity organization.

The live performance was filmed last January at the Music Box in Los Angeles, and the new music collection and can be found online and via BitTorrent. The concert had less than 1,500 people in attendance with a filmcrew of 14 people helping to record the performance.

Instead of manufacturing music DVD’s and shipping a physical product, all music and video files can be downloaded immediately while Oxfam collects proceeds to help provide aid for Haiti.

The popular band significantly shook up the music industry after deciding to release their latest album using a pay-what-you-want method. Even so, the RIAA still has gone after people sharing Radiohead music that was once given away for free.

This is another great gesture by Radiohead, and I hope the band’s fans step up and help out. Radiohead continues to prove that a band can have success embracing digital music, along with selling it online, without pushing music listeners around.

Most bands have a significant problem with Internet peer-to-peer file sharing, arguing that it steals money out of their pockets. However, Radiohead and a small handful of other bands have embraced file sharing as a way to reach new music fans — and win over music listeners that have been largely in favor of newer technologies.