Here’s the draft of a timeline of artists or band that recently left major music labels to start releasing or distributing in first person or chose to give away their work or just to side with new industry players.

In the following list you will find dates, names, sources (a small percentage of them may be my pieces in italian) and details of the decision, deal and/or move with (possibly) some additional info or updates.

When:: 01/10/2007
Who: Radiohead
Details:
“Radiohead announced their new album will be exclusively available via their own website. The band’s newest album will cost whatever you decide to pay for it. The album, In Rainbows, will be released on October 10 as a digital download on the band’s Web site. Since it’s no longer tied to a record label, the band can do whatever the hell it wants with its music. So they’ve gone the museum route—donate what you feel it’s worth.”
Sources:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/08/nradiohead108.xml

When: 08/10/2007
Who: Nine Inch Nails
Details:
“Highly popular Industrial Rock Band Nine Inch Nails have announced that as of today they are free agents, and will not be using the services of a record company in the future.”
Sources:
nin.com/
www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/08/nine-inch-nails-help-seal-record-industrys-coffin
blog.mytech.it/index.php/2007/10/09/i-nine-inch-nails-sono-liberi/

When:: 03/10/2007
Who: The Charlatans
Details:
“Legendary UK band The Charlatans, led by their manager and former Creation boss Alan McGee, plan to make their 10th album available for free [...] from radio station XFM’s website. The release begins with You Cross My Path, the first single from the album, which will be available for download on 22 October.”
Sources:
www.thecharlatans.net/news.php#nPHP1191233937
www.macworld.co.uk/digitallifestyle/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=19242
blog.mytech.it/index.php/2007/10/03/the-charlatans-il-prossimo-disco-e-gratis/

When: 12/10/2007
Who: Oasis and Jamiroquai
Details:
“Brit rockers Oasis and funkadelic party-maWhone Jamiroquai are slated to release their forthcoming albums directly to their fans on a ‘pay as you wish’ system.”
Sources:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/09/nradiohead108.xml
crunchgear.com/2007/10/10/other-uk-bands-to-copy-radiohead/

When:: 10/10/2007
Who: Madonna
Details:
“Madonna has signed a $120million deal with L.A. based concert promotion firm Live Nation to distribute three studio albums, promote concert tours, sell merchandise and license the artists’ name. Whilst the deal differs from Nine Inch Nails in that Madonna is not offering direct-to-public albums, Live Nation isn’t a record company. The deal shows that even for a world famous act, a record company is no longer required in the days of digital downloads and P2P music sharing.”
Sources:
www.smh.com.au/news/music/madonna-dumps-label-in-134m-deal/2007/10/11/1191696045334.html
www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/10/and-the-walls-came-tumbling-down-madonna-dumps-record-industry/

When: 12/10/2007
Who: Ray Davies
Details:
“Former Kinks member, Ray Davies, this morning announced plans to release his new ten-track solo album, Working Man’s Café free with every copy of the Sunday Times newspaper on 21 October. Davies will also make album track ‘Vietnam Cowboys’ available as a free online download from The Times website on the 14th October”
Sources:
www.macworld.co.uk/digitallifestyle/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=19367

When: 25/10/2007
Who: Saul Williams
Details:
“[...] Fans can download rapper and poet Saul Williams’ [...] latest release, “The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!” for free, or contribute $5. Those that select the free option are being offered an entry-level, 192kbps download, while contributors are being given a broader selection of fidelities. All of the downloads are DRM-free, and come with artwork and lyrics. [...] Fulfillment, processing, and other backend aspects are being powered by Musicane.
Also in the mix is Trent Reznor, who produced the release [...]”
Sources:
www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/102507saul

Addendum a)
“Meanwhile rumours abound that Madness, a band with a loyal fanbase amongst 40-somethings, is considering giving away its next album for free.”

Addendum b)
Bob Mould after the Radiohead news asked the readers on his blog:
“Poll question: if I were to abandon the traditional model, would you support my work? And if so, what model would be acceptable?”
Sources:
modulate.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_arWhove.html#4421340507278079855