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# Coldplay vs. Radiohead vs. NIN
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/coldplay-vs-rad/
- Published: 2008-05-12T05:27:46.000Z
- Updated: 2008-05-12T05:27:46.000Z
- Description: DOES FREE MUSIC = MORE POPULAR? How does "free music" effect a band’s popularity? An analysis by Hitwise (via DMW) showed that Radiohead’s release was much more popular than either. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2008/05/coldplay-vs-rad.html]
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: Music Marketing, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 11:06

**DOES FREE MUSIC = MORE POPULAR?**

How does "free music" effect a band’s popularity? An analysis by [Hitwise](http://weblogs.hitwise.com/us-heather-hopkins/2008/05/coldplay%5Fcompared%5Fto%5Fnin%5Fand%5Fr.html?ref=hypebot.com) (via [DMW](http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2008/05/09/analysis%3A-coldplay-compared-nin-and-radiohead?ref=hypebot.com)) showed that Radiohead’s release was much more popular than either Coldplay’s or either of the Nine Inch Nails releases, as measured by US Internet visits. Radiohead also did a much better job of sustaining interest.

Why did Radiohead rule the net since Coldplay is a more popular band by most other measures? Was it because they were Radiohead was the first major band to go free? Or was Coldplay’s single song limited-time offering just not enough to grow and sustain fan interest?

[![Radiohead_nin_coldplay](https://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/images/2008/05/12/radiohead_nin_coldplay.png "Radiohead_nin_coldplay")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/05/12/radiohead%5Fnin%5Fcoldplay.png&ref=hypebot.com)