Today may become an historical date in the history of music.
1) Radiohead is offering its new album via download at whatever price you want to pay, DRM free, no big record company involved.
http://www.inrainbows.com
Reports say that the site is being flooded with unanticipated demand, so expect delays.
2) Trent Reznor/NIN become "free agents" with no recording contract.
http://www.nin.com/index.html#4760760856064929357
The RIAA is dead and every big recording company will either adapt or die.
Apple/iTunes and Yahoo!, among others, have and will play a much bigger role in the future of recorded music, IMHO.
FWIW.
Best,
Kurt