May 5, 2009 11:23

Radiohead advised to split up during 'In Rainbows' recording by managers Radiohead Tickets

'You have to be honest if it's not working,' says Brian Message

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Radiohead's manager Brian Message says he advised the band to split during the recording of last album 'In Rainbows'.

Speaking at the Music Managers Forum in Dublin, Message explained that the Oxford band initially found it difficult to get started on the 2007 album.

"Radiohead are a once-in-a-generation act," he explained. "But you have to be honest if it's not working."

Message added that although the band were tired, they chose to ignore his advice.

The manager also revealed that it was not the band who came up with the idea of releasing 'In Rainbows' with a pay-what-you-like scheme, reports The Guardian.

"Two of my partners in the management company came up with the idea of pay-what-you-like," he explained.

"Both the band and us were really excited about doing something brave and a bit wacky...we realised that by using the internet for the delivery of the album, we could reach 173 countries and it would cost us less than three cents a copy for distribution."

Speaking about music and the internet in general, Message said he believes Radiohead are "out of step" with the record industry on the major issues, adding that he thinks file-sharing should not be illegal.

"We believe file-sharing by peer-to-peer should be legalised," he explained. "The sharing of music where it is not for profit is a great thing for culture and music."