Radiohead Sign To XL

Radiohead

As expected, Radiohead yesterday announced that they had signed a deal with Beggars' XL Recordings who will release the band's new album 'In Rainbows' in all territories except North America.

It hasn't been confirmed when the physical release of the album will take place. Some are speculating that it will coincide with the release of the box set edition of the album that the band have been selling via their own website and which is due out on 3 Dec - though others reckon it won't be out until the New Year.

Confirming the deal, XL Recordings co-founder Richard Russell told CMU: "Radiohead are a constant inspiration to us all, because they unfailingly put creativity first. XL is more than honoured to be working with Radiohead".

The label's MD, Ben Beardsworth, added: "Radiohead have created a huge amount of excitement via the unique way in which they launched this campaign online. 'In Rainbows' is truly a classic album and it deserves to reach a massive audience, well beyond that of download and boxset sales. We will be working closely with them to help deliver that".

There has been, of course, mucho speculation as to who would release Radiohead's seventh studio album with at least two majors known to have been interested, even though the band had already released the long player themselves digitally via that much hyped 'pay what you want' promotion. XL, however, was always a favourite given that they released Thom Yorke's first solo album last year.

As previously reported, in North America the album is most likely to be released via ATO Records.