[2] Radiohead's record contract with EMI ended in 2003 with the release of their sixth album, Hail to the Thief.

EMI hoped to negotiate a new contract for their seventh album, In Rainbows (2007), but Radiohead instead self-released it on their website and signed to XL Recordings for the retail release.

[3] Commentators including the Guardian saw the box set as retaliation for the band choosing not to sign a new contract with EMI.

[3] The box set was promoted on Google Ads with an advert reading: "Radiohead – New album In Rainbows now available as boxset".

The advert led to an EMI site selling the box set, which does not include In Rainbows.