Pitchfork

And the rumors have proven true. As suggested for weeks now and confirmed in a Billboard.com report today, Radiohead have traded their free-agent-hood-- outside North America, anyway-- for a deal with XL Recordings.

Old friends XL will treat territories outside the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to the physical version of In Rainbows, that Best New Music-worthy record that's blowing up all over your hard drive right now. It's still unclear when this will happen; the early word from Radiohead's PR was 2008, but some folks have suggested the physical release may coincide with that of the In Rainbows discbox, due December 3.

As for North America? It's still not confirmed whether Dave Matthews' ATO imprint and Coran Capshaw's Side One will indeed handle In Rainbows over here, but don't be surprised if that's precisely what happens.

And however it happens, at least we'll have something tangible for the guys to autograph when we stalk them outside their tour bus next year.