NME News

Editors' Tom Smith denies he's 'spearheading campaign against Radiohead'

Frontman tells NME Radio he still thinks they were 'devaluing' music

October 6, 2009 | 13 Comments
Editors news RSS feed
More Editors news, reviews, videos and tour dates
Post this on Twitter or Follow NME

Editors frontman Tom Smith has said that he is not "spearheading a campaign" against Radiohead with regards to their attitude to illegal downloading after calling them "selfish".

Smith earlier said that the band's 2007 'pay-what-you-like' release style for their 'In Rainbows' contradicted their current anti-file-sharing stance.

Today (October 6) Smith told Iain Baker on NME Radio that he wasn't trying to attack the Oxford band personally, but he thought they could have been more helpful when it came to tackling downloading.

"All this debate… it's hard getting involved because I don't offer a solution," he told DJ Iain Baker. "I'm not saying they [Radiohead] started a problem, I'm not spearheading a campaign against them. The problem is devaluing music. Radiohead gave away their record for free… big bands have responsibility for small bands."

Editors tickets:

Date / Time	Artist	Venue	Town/City	Buy
Mar 06, 2010 19:30	Editors	Engine Shed	Lincoln	Buy Editors tickets from Seatwave
Mar 07, 2010 19:30	Editors	Preston Guildhall	Preston	Buy Editors tickets from Seetickets
Mar 08, 2010 19:30	Editors	St George's Hall	Bradford	Buy Editors tickets from Seetickets
Mar 15, 2010 19:30	Editors	O2 Academy Newcastle	Newcastle	Buy Editors tickets from Seetickets
Mar 16, 2010 19:30	Editors	Apollo	Manchester	Buy Editors tickets from Seetickets
Mar 17, 2010 19:30	Editors	Corn Exchange	Cambridge	[Sold Out]
Mar 19, 2010 19:30	Editors	O2 Academy Bournemouth	Bournemouth	Buy Editors tickets from Seetickets
Mar 20, 2010 19:30	Editors	Brighton Dome	Brighton	Buy Editors tickets from Seatwave
Mar 21, 2010 19:30	Editors	Cardiff University	Cardiff	Buy Editors tickets from Seetickets
Mar 23, 2010 19:30	Editors	Leas Cliff Hall	Folkestone	[Sold Out]
Mar 24, 2010 19:30	Editors	O2 Academy Brixton	London	Buy Editors tickets from Seetickets
Mar 25, 2010 19:30	Editors	O2 Academy Brixton	London	Buy Editors tickets from Seetickets
Mar 28, 2010 19:00	Editors	Guildhall	Portsmouth	Buy Editors tickets from Seetickets
Mar 29, 2010 19:30	Editors	Philharmonic Hall	Liverpool	[Sold Out]
Mar 30, 2010 19:30	Editors	O2 Academy Birmingham	Birmingham	Buy Editors tickets from Seetickets

Share this story:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Reddit
Bebo

Follow NME on Twitter

More News:

Eminem and 50 Cent to face off on 'Relapse 2' album

PREVIOUS Eminem and 50 Cent to face off on 'Relapse 2'...

NEXT I Am Kloot to release rarities album

Buy NME Magazine right now

Subscribe here or get this week's issue delivered to your door

Comments (13)

Add a comment

fofe510

Oct 7, 2009

I think Mr. Smith needs to think this through a little more. Basically, what he's saying is that there is no difference between theft and charity. I can understand why he feels file-sharing amounts to theft, though I don't share that view, but Radiohead made pay-what-you-like decision on their own. They consented to it. It's entirely different than file-sharing.

12_memories

Oct 7, 2009

He's just jealous

gazingatshoes

Oct 7, 2009

Radiohead have responsibility for Radiohead. As much as I like the Editors, Tom's just coming across here as bitter about comparitive record sales.

TheMicawbers

Oct 7, 2009

I hate to say it, but I think he has a point. How can any unsigned band trying to make it ask for 5quid for their 4 track ep when someone amazing like Radiohead give it away. It devalues music and takes profit away from struggling bands = more time spent working their 9-5s and less time in a studio with an experienced producer.

Loz Lozza

Oct 7, 2009

Agreed bruv ! Agreed ! Musicians SELL records !!

Number Johnny Five

Oct 7, 2009

"big bands have responsibility for small bands." Well that's a load of bull isn't it? You're responsible for yourself laddie. Time to let go of the apron strings and accept that the times they are a-changin'.

thisit

Oct 7, 2009

I buuy the record if the record is good this debate just carries on with no end in sight FREE THE MUSIC

macky679

Oct 7, 2009

How does a free or cheap download of 'In Rainbows' effect the sale of a completely different album by a completely artist? Record companies have a duty to protect emerging artists not Radiohead, Radiohead have done more than their fair share of helping artists over the years.

DaveIndieBoy

Oct 7, 2009

This completely misses the point. In purely economic terms (because basically this is what it boils down to), how can Radiohead, by offering to give their album away for free, undermine smaller artists? If anything, they are helping the smaller artists by freeing up the buyer's disposable income. Say a music fan wants to buy Radiohead's record AND the CD of 'Band A'. However, in these dark recessionary times they can only afford one and as they pretty much know how great the Radiohead album will be they go for Radiohead, leaving Band A's record sat in HMV. However, Radiohead's offer to give their album away for free enabling the cash-strapped punter to pay out for Band A's record and allowing them to enjoy both! If however, you're uncomfortable with the notion of NOT paying for a record, you can always pay the full-price. Simples.

lipgloss

Oct 7, 2009

i'd buy in rainbows twice before anything editors ever released. i know that's not the point, but i think this tom smith guy is also missing the point...

Laika288

Oct 8, 2009

Aww poor Tom doesn't quite understand why the new Editors LP will be a flop. Did illegal filesharing hurt the Arctic Monkeys? Oh no wait a second because they actually had something about them it didn't matter because it still became the fastest selling debut record of all time!! Did Enter Shikari complain about as a unsigned band when they sold out the Astoria?

maldemer67

Oct 8, 2009

Big bands don't have to be responsible for anyone but themselves. If they feel like they want to help out, it's their choice. It's rock and roll for fucks sake, not a charity or a non-profit. Now go and sell some records to pay for your excesses.