London-based “educational charity” D&AD (Design & Art Direction) has announced the 29th edition of its Global Student Awards design competition, and among the “briefs” (i.e., prompts): a Radiohead-sponsored challenge to create a music video for Thom Yorke’s “The Clock”, from the man’s 2006 debut solo disc The Eraser. Apparently there are some other categories and it’s a prestigious contest or whatever, but holy shit! Radiohead!!

According to the contest website, “All full or part time students enrolled on higher education courses anywhere in the world (HND, BTEC, BA, BSc, MA, MSc, MD or equivalent) can enter” and participants “don’t necessarily need to be studying a creative course to enter.” So hop to it, young scholars– the final deadline is March 23, and winners receive money, honor, and cute, stubby pencil statues. Contest details are linked below in stunning .pdf format.

Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood has compiled his favorite reggae tracks onto an album called Jonny Greenwood is the Controller. The collection is due out on March 6th and features 17 tracks from various Jamaican artists, including Lee Perry, Desmond Dekker, the Heptones and others. Greenwood, described in a press release as a “fervent fan of reggae music,” spent six months listening to an extensive selection of recordings before finalizing the track listing.

Radiohead has been in the studio for the last several months, working on its seventh studio album.

Singer Thom Yorke recently debuted two new Radiohead songs during a solo performance on an online program called From The Basement, which features artists playing songs live in a London studio with no host and no audience. The show can be seen at fromthebasement.tv.

There’s no word on a title or release date for the new Radiohead record.

He’s ‘very proud’ of new song

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke has discussed their eagerly awaited new material.

As previously reported the frontman performed two new songs - ‘Videotape’ and ‘Down Is The New Up’ on the internet TV show fromthebasement.tv, which was launched last night (December 18).

On Radiohead’s official site Yorke wrote: “‘Videotape’ I was very proud of. And it doesn’t sound like the version that we are working on now…Which is even better…They are sketches obviously just me on the piano. Check it oot [sic].”

Yorke also said that the band were having a seasonal rest. He posted: “We are taking a break now, starting up again in Jan.

“Have a good Christmas everyone if you celebrate it that is, love peace and hope for the future.”

Thom Yorke is giving fans an early Christmas treat by serving up free downloads of exclusive remixes of two tracks taken from his solo album The Eraser.

Writing on his blogs, the Radiohead frontman said he is making available “The Clock” remixed by Surgeon, as well as mix of his latest single “Analyse”. The tracks will be available for a limited time, but Yorke has hinted more free downloads will be on the way in the future.

Yorke said: “For anyone who has heard ‘The Eraser’, there are some remixes coming. Yes. I got excited. I’ve been listening through. I mean. There’s some freaky s***.

“They may start appearing soon. Gradually. Briefly. Just a taste. And then gone.”

He added: “First there is Surgeon’s remix of ‘The Clock’. This was the one that made me think, we got to start getting these out. I was chuffed he wanted to do it as I think he is a MASTER.

Radiohead’s hit album ‘Kid A’ will be given a makeover by the Charity Symphony Orchestra in a live concert this coming weekend.

The show will take place next Sunday (December 17) at the Bancroft Great Hall. For those interested in attending, tickets cost £8, or for those with a student ID it’s a mere fiver, simply drop an email to charityso@hotmail.com for more information on the event.

Lou Reed, REM and Tom Waits are also involved

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke is to appear on a charity album covering Neil Young’s 1970 classic ‘After the Gold Rush’.

The compilation is to raise funds for The Bridge School, a non-profit organisation dedicated to assisting individuals suffering from physical disabilities and speech impediments in achieving their maximum potential.

Since The Bridge School was founded 20 years ago by Young’s wife Pegi, acts such as Pearl Jam, Ryan Adams and Metallica have all performed at concerts to benefit the organisation.

The compilation, which will be called ‘The Bridge School’, was created with recordings from these live shows, and features additional luminaries as Lou Reed, REM and Tom Waits.

 Thom Yorke, The White Stripes and Kieran Hebden are all set to feature in a new online music series.

The artists will play intimate sets for From The Basement which will be available for download for £1.89 per video/track from December 18.

The first will star Thom Yorke performing songs from the new Radiohead album on the piano and Nigel Godrich helping out with the sound.

Kieren Hebden’s performance will see him collaborate with drummer Steve Reid.

The shows will have no host and no studio audience.

Speaking about the show Thom Yorke said: “From The Basement was exciting because it came from the desire to cut out the crap that lies between the music and the viewer.”

“To get plugged straight into the mains. No producer director egos messing it up. The highlight for me was listening to Kieran and Steve Reid jamming as the tape started rolling.”

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke is to give students the chance to help produce footage for the video of his next single “The Clock”.

Any full or part-time student enrolled in higher-education courses is eligible to enter and participates are allowed to submit as a team of no more than three people. And there aren’t many other restrictions or excessive direction placed on wannabe music video directors.

“You can do whatever you like but the promo must be a finished piece for the full duration of the track,” the instructions say. “Your visuals must follow the music…you can take the lyrics into account, reflecting the overall message of the song, but the priority is the music. Finally, remember to keep things simple!”

It might help to know the track “The Clock” is about the environment, and global warming, and that time is running out to save the planet.

Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood has picked up an award voted on by Radio 3 listeners in the UK. A classical piece produced by Greenwood was named favorite orchestral commission of the year in the 4th annual British Composer Awards.

Jonny Greenwood is one of the founding members of Radiohead and plays alongside his brother Colin in the band. A classically trained violist, Jonny was named the BBC’s composer-in-residence in 2004. He also plays the organ, piano, xylophone, glockenspiel, banjo and harmonica.

Greenwood received £10,000 from the London-based PRS Foundation for New Music to write another orchestral composition, which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in 2007.

Greenwood told the Daily Telegraph that “As long as I looked down and just listened it was ok. But, if I concentrated on watching all those people spending time on my stuff, that really blew me away. That was when I knew I had to shut my eyes.”

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke has donated a new track to a charity album aimed at raising funds for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Sales of the album will be limited to just 10,000 copies, and includes work from the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand and the Yeahs Yeahs.

The album is on sale now. The tracklisting is as follows:

Feist - ‘Inside and Out’ (The Audience Honey remix)
Thom Yorke - ‘Harrowdown Hill’
The Rapture - ‘Get Myself Into It’ (Prince Language Disco mix)
Cat Power - ‘Hurt’ (live on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic)
Wolfmother - ‘Dimension’ (live at Big Day Out)
Franz Ferdinand - ‘Eleanor Put Your Boots On’ (single version)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - ‘Cheated Hearts’ (Peaches remix)
Kaiser Chiefs - ‘Sink That Ship’
The Walkmen - ‘Another One Goes By’ (live)
Chris Walla - ‘Radio’
Junior Boys - ‘So Sleep’
Snowden - ‘Anti Anti’ (Jordan Stutter remix)
Favourite Sons - ‘Things That We Do To Each Other’ (live on Indie 103.1’s Dead Air)
Dustin O’Halloran – ‘Opus’