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Fri, 26 Sep 2008 AC/DC spurning iTunes will drive file-sharing traffic - Lefsetz

AC/DC reckon spurning iTunes will help the band sell albums, but they may be wrong

Jonny Evans

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AC/DC have caused a major hubbub in recent days on news the band isn't going to make its next album available through iTunes - but reports into the same may be based on flawed information.

AC/DC frontman Angus Young, whose band refuse to make their songs available on iTunes, said the move is simply because they don’t want fans simply downloading a few tracks from albums.

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“We don’t make singles, we make albums,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “We believe the songs on any of our albums belong together. If we were on iTunes, we know a certain percentage of people would only download two or three songs from the album. We don’t think that represents us musically.”

AC/DC will release their new album, ‘Black Ice’, on October 20 - but not through iTunes, with Young allegedly claiming that the band's back catalogue sales have actually climbed since the band decided to spurn the Apple music site.

But Bob Lefsetz argues that AC/DC fans will get the album any way they can - they'll take it off the 'Torrents if it isn't available on iTunes.

"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," Lefsetz wrote.

It gets better - in a chat with the head of AC/DC's label, Lefsetz is told the label chief doesn't believe the interview is real, "Angus doesn't talk like that." A little confusion reveals an interview did take place - in Germany. It's all a little "complicated".

"We live in a track world.  You can either admit it, or get run over by the future.  AC/DC’s album will be available track by track.  And that’s how it will be listened to.  The only difference is, THEY’RE NOT GOING TO GET PAID!" Lefestz concludes.

It's a time at which the music industry is pulling out all the stops, not just to fight file-sharing, but also to battle iTunes - which saved the industry.

This week, BPI chief Geoff Taylor even went so far as to slate iTunes for refusing to make its music interoperable with other DRM types. When challenged on this, given some of his members are precisely the labels that won’t license their music DRM-free (interoperability guaranteed) through iTunes Plus, he backtracked slightly and said Apple needs to work it out with individual labels. But his anti-iTunes barb remained echoing through the air.

But are the labels right to sue music fans? Outspoken UK protest singer Billy Bragg certainly doesn't think so, telling a music industry gathering this week: "You know who the pirates are? The pirates are our fans, when you sue our fans, you drive our fans away." Bragg believes the entire music industry requires root and branch change, and that the first focus in this should be fair income for artists, large and small.

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Comments received


Nick said on Fri, 26 Sep 2008


A new AC/DC CD will appeal to hardcore fans only, they are long past their prime, fans who will no doubt by the physical product. Boycotting iTunes will make zero difference, as those downloading illegally would I suspect be unlikely to buy the CD anyway. AC/DC best bet is playing live, more people are likely to want to see them live playing classic material then buy a CD of new stuff.

Banger said on Fri, 26 Sep 2008

There is also the fact that the iPod has a xxx sound reproduction to anyone with a real ear for music.

Michael said on Fri, 26 Sep 2008

Angus should talk to the head of Universal. They pulled out of iTunes and lost millions upon millions in sales. They came back. And Banger, you can't attend concerts 24/7. You need a portable way to listen to music.

AC/DC said on Fri, 26 Sep 2008

doesnt need ITUNES- and Itunes can go out of business befoe AC/DC's album sales suffer from it. nuff said

Cheesy Monkey said on Fri, 26 Sep 2008

Re: the Telegraph article - it's explained why they don't want to sign with iTunes:

1) They don't want to sell individual singles, only albums. As iTunes won't 'lock' albums - i.e. you can only buy albums, not single tracks - AC/DC ain't interested

2) What's the difference between selling 1m singles and 1m albums? 1m albums is worth far more in royalties to artists than 1m singles, particularly considering Apple's stingy cut for said artists

3) As they are not on any online music store that sells individual tracks, their back catalogue is selling strongly, compared to, say, the Rolling Stones who have seen a rise in track sales offset by a larger (financial) fall in back catalogue album sales

AC/DC stands to lose nothing by refusing to sign up to iTunes. Apple, by contrast, may lose this income, but the business is too large for this to be a real impact. Besides, as iTunes is essentially to facilitate impulse buys of songs, Jobs' ain't likely to change things anytime soon.

Baracuda said on Fri, 26 Sep 2008

I think the more the bands and labels insist that we buy whole albums, the more the public is going to resist. They will flee to ilegal downloads instead. I'm not going to pay $$ for a CD that only has 2 or 3 good songs, and the rest is xxx. AC/DC knows this, and that's what they are afraid of. If artist want to make money off songs, make every track a good track.

Wrong math said on Fri, 26 Sep 2008

People, people. You can BUY on iTunes or you can buy a CD, down load it to iTunes, song by song, and loan it to your friends, and they can down load it, over and over.

And then, GUESS WHAT, we get to listen to what ever songs we like. Artist be damned. :-)

So, sell on iTunes, get put on iTunes the music jutebox, or just lose money, its your choice....... well actually ....... mostly today, its not.

Maybe if you only wanted to do live concerts.....?????? LOL

en

JustMe said on Fri, 26 Sep 2008

When I hear a song I want, I go to iTunes first, it's bar far the easiest method. If I can't find it, there are other methods that don't involve me having to wait or leave the house.

I have some AC/DC which I like, but they are tracks not albums. I will not waste money buying albums for a few tracks anymore. Not being available on iTunes assures that they've lost any money from me.

Designad said on Fri, 26 Sep 2008

I love AC/DC; first saw them in 1978. But Angus mate, you're not 'Yes', you've never made a concept album. Get with the times.

Rocker said on Fri, 26 Sep 2008

Stay with it AC/DC!!! Dweeb world is not for rockers.

JD6 said on Fri, 26 Sep 2008

Black Ice will make AC/DC even more fans in 2008/2009. They will make way more ($millions more) by not utilizing itunes, even with file sharing. Single songs for sale and sharing (I do both) dehumanizes bands. CD's / Albums / Shows give them a soul. They will even outsell Beatles and make way more than Rolling Stones.

Anon said on Fri, 26 Sep 2008

Again, the ugly head of the backwards label business rears its head. When will they learn that no one consumes music in the album format any more? The only reason why it started that way is because on vinyl, it was difficult to change songs go forward/backward, change albums, artists, et cetera. The consumer is fragmented now. There is no need to sit through a whole album because it is easier than getting up to change the vinyl, or to fast forward the tape. With the advent of the CD, consumers began to skip over undesired songs.

Face it -- the album is DEAD...Bucking against the trend will only hurt the sales of the Artist overall.

Die hard fans will buy the album, but since the fan base really isn't growing and that this ignores the teen/twenties consumer by not offering the tracks on iTunes means that AC/DC will loose sales.

I bet they put their album on iTunes by the end of the year...

Anon said on Fri, 26 Sep 2008

Oh, by the way, it was interesting to read the other comments -- by individuals in the label, no less. I have never music fans so oblivious, and only the music cartel would lie through their own teeth to convince others to follow suit.

Nice...

vagus said on Sat, 27 Sep 2008

Please, a bit more respect... Black Ice is going to be a big success!ITunes-fanboys here.. HAHAHAHAHA just stupid.. just stupid.. shame on you all.. shame on you Anon, your comment is laughable.. HAHAHA

Kev said on Sat, 27 Sep 2008

AC/DC has sold more physical albums between 2000-2008 than they had sold between 1974-1999. They have one of the strongest back catalogs of any of the top selling bands and the fanbase keeps getting bigger. They also have a deal with Verizon to sell their albums as downloads. Not much need for iTunes.

Motorhead said on Sat, 27 Sep 2008

Why would they want their music on your tinny little fashion accessory anyway?

mglittlerobin said on Sat, 27 Sep 2008

Unfortunately for AC/DC, this move screams, "Pirate me, pirate me!" They're going to lose more money by NOT being on iTunes, at least they should try to find another legal way to sell their albums online. I don't pirate music, but they're totally asking for it.

acdcrocks said on Sat, 27 Sep 2008

AC/DC dont need no itunes, BIB sold 42 million worldwide 2nd only to thriller, Sold 200million albums worldwide and all their albums is a must, thats why their the 2nd biggest selling back catalog since 2003. It might not work with other mediocre act or artist, but the mighty ac/dc doesnt need no itunes, and I guarantee they will loads of the new black ice album next month, base on the their upcoming 18moth tour which is sold out!!!

darkcloud said on Mon, 29 Sep 2008

I can't believe anyone who listens to AC/DC would know how to use iTunes anyway!!:)

bnaked said on Mon, 13 Oct 2008

AC/DC needs no money! They have enough. The Album is for the fans... AC/DC is the biggest band of the world. They are the most down-to-earth guys in the music business... Black Ice is going to be the best selling album of the last decade...

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