(music-news.com) - Is Metallica about to do a Radiohead and give its next album away for free? It could be. The band that put an end to Napster looks like making a complete about face and encompassing file-sharing. Lars Ulrich has told Rolling Stone that they are looking at new models and that the band has been observing what Radiohead and Trent Reznor did with their recent releases.Radiohead offered its 'In Rainbows' album as a pay whatever you want download. Although they have never made a statement about how much it sold, estimates suggest the band made around $1.6 million for the effort.Nine Inch Nail's Trent Reznor has also followed the unconventional distribution model for his latest album 'Ghosts'. Downloads are available at nin.com. Metallica has one more album under their current contract and then they are open to explore new ways to reach fans.Metallica's new album will be released in the second half of the year. They will perform in Tuscon, Arizona on May 16 before heading to Europe to play the summer festivals.