RadioHead Managers creative sales idea

Radiohead created quite a stir with its fill-in-the-blank, pay-what-you-want price tag on In Rainbows. Now the band's manager, Brian Message, has launched a new record label, Polyphonic, which promises to feature similarly creative distributions.

The label is a result of a collaboration of Message's company, ATC Music, MAMA Group and management firm Nettwerk, and aims to provide inventive methods of release for both new and established artists to keep them from turning to more traditional labels. Polyphonic hopes to provide artists with 50 percent of their profits, and their shares will increase as music's success does."We will do whatever is most effective to get an artist noticed," said Adam Driscoll, the co-CEO of MAMA Group, which provided most of the initial $20 million funding for the project. "Giving an album away for free may get one million people listening to a new artist."

Michael Stipe, Thom Yorke and Frank Black record tribute album for Mark Mulcahy

Radiohead's Thom Yorke, REM's Michael Stipe and Pixies' Frank Black have contributed to a covers album for Miracle Legion and Polaris frontman Mark Mulcahy.

Ciao My Shining Star - The Songs Of Mark Mulcahy, is released on September 14 in the UK and 29 in the US.

The 21-track album also features the likes of Ben Kweller, Juliana Hatfield and Mercury Rev. In addition, a further 20 tracks by acts including A.C. Newman and Buffalo Tom will be released digitally

Since forming the Rough Trade-signed Miracle Legion in 1984, Mulcahy has supported the likes of Oasis, Radiohead and Jeff Buckley.

The covers album has been recorded in response to the death of his wife Melissa, who died suddenly in 2008.

It is hoped that the funds raised from it will help Mulcahy to carry on making music, and support his three-year-old twin daughters.

Two concerts, in London and New York, will coincide with the release of the album, although exact details are yet to be announced.

Tracklisting for Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs Of Mark Mulcahy is

Thom Yorke – 'All For The Best'
The National – 'Ashamed Of The Story I Told'
Michael Stipe – 'Everything's Coming Undone'
David Berkeley – 'Loves The Only Thing That Shuts Me Up'
Dinosaur Jr. – 'The Backyard'
Chris Harford & Mr Ray Neal – 'Micon The Icon'
Frank Black – 'Bill Jocko'
Vic Chesnutt – 'Little Man'
Unbelievable Truth – 'Ciao My Shining Star'
Butterflies Of Love – 'I Have Patience'
Chris Collingwood (Fountains Of Wayne) – 'Cookie Jar'
Frank Turner – 'The Quiet One'
Rocket From The Tombs – 'In Pursuit Of Your Happiness'
Ben Kweller – 'Wake Up Whispering'
Josh Rouse – 'I Woke Up In The Mayflower'
Autumn Defense – 'Paradise'
Hayden – 'Happy Birthday Yesterday'
Juliana Hatfield – 'We're Not In Charleston Anymore'
Mercury Rev – 'Sailors And Animals'
Elvis Perkins – 'She Watches Over Me'
Sean Watkins – 'A World Away From This One'

click Radiohead tickets for more information.