AC/DC are anti-iTunes, warning these legal music services will kill the business even while the bands unreleased album, 'Black Ice' has been downloaded over 400,000 times - without the artists getting paid.
On iTunes, AC/DC front man Brian Johnson just isn't a fan, telling Reuters this week: "Maybe I'm just being old-fashioned, but this iTunes, God bless 'em, it's going to kill music if they're not careful."
He added: "It's a...monster, this thing," he said. "It just worries me. And I'm sure they're just doing it all in the interest of making as much...cash as possible. Let's put it this way, it's certainly not for the...love, let's get that out of the way, right away," he said.
However, the hotly-hyped album won't actually ship until October 20 but that hasn’t stopped it being downloaded over 400,000 times through the Torrent networks.
Music industry critic Bob Lefsetz argued that AC/DC's move would boost file-sharing traffic in September, when it emerged the band would refuse to sell their music through iTunes in an attempt to shore up the album format.
"The joke is illegal acquisition will dwarf CD sales. Whatever is sold legitimately will be distributed online INSTANTLY! Which is great for the band ultimately. Breeding new fans. But, like the rest of the industry, the band wants to ignore this," .
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Comments received
Greendave said on Tue, 14 Oct 2008
Gods of Rock - with their heads firmly buried in the Stone Age!
And let us remember, we all have to thank Metallica for suing Napster out of business, resulting in the birth of the infinitely superior Bittorrent!
BB said on Tue, 14 Oct 2008
AC/DC don't need iTunes - get over it.
heartydiamond said on Tue, 14 Oct 2008
An AC/DC fan since the 70's, but don't think the record labels are in business for the love of it either! Come on boys, times are a changin'.
Michael said on Tue, 14 Oct 2008
Here in the USA there are fewer and fewer stores that sell CDs. Walmart and the used records shops are all that's left.
JT said on Tue, 14 Oct 2008
Less physical CD's does not make iTunes the only vendor. They sell digital downloads through Verizon.
And let's be honest, it will be the biggest selling album in years regardless.
artee said on Tue, 14 Oct 2008
when will we see AC/DC digital t-shirts??!! Oooh, I love virtual black....mmmmmmmm
Andrew said on Tue, 14 Oct 2008
"Which is great for the band ultimately. Breeding new fans."
This "industry critic" offers no evidence for his argument, but is trying to excuse a selfish and damaging activity (which also happens to be illegal).
Nick Barrett from Pendragon says, "The argument that it helps promote the band is nonsense, we have not noticed any more people at shows, or any increased cd sales. It really is a myth that Illegal Downloading helps to promote the band"
bigdaftdave said on Tue, 14 Oct 2008
Andrew, i think Nick Barrett from Pendragon maybe deluding himself if he thinks the reason nobody goes to see his band is because of the all the naughty people on the interwebs.
Steve said on Wed, 15 Oct 2008
He added: "It's a...monster, this thing," he said. "It just worries me. And I'm sure they're just doing it all in the interest of making as much...cash as possible. Let's put it this way, it's certainly not for the...love, let's get that out of the way, right away," he said.
Yeah, like that's not why YOU'RE in it, huh? Apple is barely making a profit and they could give a damn whether you sell your crappy album or not. Jerks.
crapTunes said on Mon, 20 Oct 2008
The tickets for the UK concerts certainly needed no help from iTunes. 4 big stadiums sold out in under 5 minutes.
Steve - you may think they are crappy albums but they will sell more than 99% of the artists on iTunes and keep selling for years to come.
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