http://radiohead-prague.nataly.fr/Main.html

"After having a go with a Name-Your-Price album and an open-source video, Radiohead is again breaking new ground, this time with a fan-based initiative. A group of fans went to one of the band's shows in Prague, each shooting the show from a different angle. By editing it all together and adding audio from the ori...y the band, they have created a video of the show that is 'Strictly not for sale — By the fans for the fans,' adding, 'Please share and enjoy.' Can this be the future of live show videos?"

No, it's not the future, but it is certainly fan friendly. It's also not too new.

Go back to the 80's and Bon Jovi had fans onstage with cameras recording whatever. The footage was put together, and made into the official video for "Bad Medicine".

That's not to say it's not a great idea. Nine Inch Nails, a year or two ago, unofficially said "ok" to a group of fans who had spearheaded an effort to record the band in San Francisco (I think). Fans found out the band was set to perform The Downward Spiral in full. They knew it was a once in a lifetime chance. They got their act together, got their HD cameras to the show and recorded the whole thing. There were a few sources of good audio as well, and the show was cut together with only fan video and audio. I watched it, and it was amazing. I'm not a NIN fan, but for Trent to let the fans put that out without suing them or being a total dickbag about it was pretty amazing. What I got stirred up about was watching the video, and hearing the fans nearer to one particular camera. The first TDS song came on. They cheered, then the 2nd song from the album was played. They said "OOHH MY GGOOODDDD!", then they played the 3rd track from the CD. "HOLY SHIIIT!" Their excitement grew with each song, because they suddenly knew what they were be treated to.

Prince will never do that. He's too close-minded, and a jerk to ever come out and give the fans a treat like that. He'd never let fans film, or put together, or release the master audio, a concert for FREE. Prince is about one thing: MONEY! I'm not a Radiohead fan at all, but God bless 'em for doing something awesome and amazing like this for the fans.

PS Here is the trailer for the Radiohead video:

Ernest, yes, not so new, but yes, too far into the future for Prince?

I mean, just as a matter of fact and not to kick him down, we did not see his recent Montreux efforts, yet.

What if that would have been finished?

Or perhaps done with fan participation like shown here?

Far from new as was said, not groundbreaking considering the Grateful Dead were infamous for allowing everyone to record them. a-Ha on their current worldwide final tour is allowing everything done, though in a few venues the asshole security at the venues forgets and has taken cameras away from people. They even opened an official tour channel for posting videos,linked it with their official site, etc...its actually beyond fan friendly, and for a band thats not touring again and doesnt have to be "friendly" its a rarity. Other bands on their last tours just want your money.

udo said:

Ernest, yes, not so new, but yes, too far into the future for Prince?

If he didn't think of it first, or a way to cash in on it, he has no interest. So "too far into the future"? Nah. Just not firmly enough rooted in the money pit.

ernestsewell said:

udo said:

Ernest, yes, not so new, but yes, too far into the future for Prince?

If he didn't think of it first, or a way to cash in on it, he has no interest. So "too far into the future"? Nah. Just not firmly enough rooted in the money pit.

So we need to make sure that fan participation makes such a release a huge seller.
Is that already evidenced by the recent past?

udo said:

ernestsewell said:

If he didn't think of it first, or a way to cash in on it, he has no interest. So "too far into the future"? Nah. Just not firmly enough rooted in the money pit.

So we need to make sure that fan participation makes such a release a huge seller.
Is that already evidenced by the recent past?

No, what I meant was that Prince ain't doin' that much for free, if anything at all. If there's no bucks in it for him, he ain't doin' it. (He got paid for 20Ten, whether folks got it free or not.)

ernestsewell said:

udo said:

So we need to make sure that fan participation makes such a release a huge seller.
Is that already evidenced by the recent past?

No, what I meant was that Prince ain't doin' that much for free, if anything at all. If there's no bucks in it for him, he ain't doin' it. (He got paid for 20Ten, whether folks got it free or not.)

The way I see it:
Fan particiaption could save on cost (less personnel, do sam eor more with less paid people) and at the same time boost sales due to the 'new' approach.

I.e.: employ fans but sell DVD as in the old days.

Thus the money thing could stil lbe interesting to him.

Prince would never do something like that. He's too egotistical. A genius, but egotistical.

I think it's awesome that they did that. I'm a huge NIN fan, and I was really pleased when Trent did that. He always does awesome things like that.