This just in from Hits:

BLIND ITEM TIDBIT: Our spies from across the pond have informed us that
there¹s a certain U.S. music executive, employed at a stateside-based
management company/independent label, who has been diligently meeting with
Radiohead and their handlers about a new American label arrangement, and
that they¹re close to making a deal. It would be a huge coup for the indie
label in question if they manage to pull it off. We¹ll keep you posted.

Stereogum thinks it’s a certain caffeine purveyor, while other pundits are trying to decipher the “management company/independent label” clue.

Front runners:

Nettwerk, home of such diverse acts as Avril Lavigne, The Pippettes, and Barenaked Ladies
ATO/Red Light, which would make Radiohead and Dave Matthews labelmates. Hm.
Almost Gold, whose biggest “stars” are Peter, Bjorn & John

This all begs a much more interesting question, however: these days, it’s really uncommon for an artist to stay long enough with one label to(limited) marketing capabilities of a label. What the heck are they doing entering into another contract?? According to Sound Generator, Yorke posted his thoughts (which have since been removed) on the Radiohead website recently:

“What we would like is the old EMI back again, the nice genteel arms manufacturers who treated music a nice side project [and] weren’t [too] bothered about the shareholders.”

We want to know what you think.

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