Buckcherry guitarist Keith Nelson says U2’s deal with Apple has devalued music and made it harder for bands who still rely on record sales.
The group’s Songs Of Innocence was automatically downloaded free to over 500 million iTunes accounts last week, reputedly costing the technology giant $100m – but Nelson says it sends out the wrong message.
He tells Northwest Music Scene, “I think music has been devalued in the eyes of the consumer, to the point where a band like U2 decides to just give its music away and basically tell people their music isn’t worth anything. That’s a bummer because I know what it takes to write a meaningful record and get it into consumers’ hands. They’ve sent a message to everyone that music is free, and that’s disturbing. It’s easy to do that when you’re a multi-millionaire and money isn’t something you worry about. But, when you’re a working band and you count on every dollar, it’s disappointing to see someone do that.”
Meanwhile, the UK Entertainment Retailers Association has slammed the U2 giveaway, saying it’s as damaging as piracy and called the promotion a “failure” after fewer than 7000 CDs from the group’s back catalogue sold after the stunt.
ERA Chairman Paul Quirk said, “This promotion is a failure on so many levels. It devalues music, it alienates the majority of people who don’t use iTunes and it disappoints those who prefer to shop in stores. Giving away music is as damaging to the value of music as piracy and those who will suffer most are the artists of tomorrow. If one of the biggest rock bands in the world are prepared to give away their new album for free, how can we expect the public to spend £10 ($16.25 U.S. dollars) on an album by a newcomer?”
Last month, Buckcherry released their Fuck EP on August 19th.
additional source: classicrockmagazine
44 Responses
I don’t want U2’s music even if it is free.
Agree. If they want to give it away who cares. Lots of musicians put stuff out for free.
Ace frehleys new album is on spotify and can be accesed free. I bought the cd anyway though because I want to support him.
New bands need to figure it out for themselves, it’s not U2’s job. Kids don’t buy music anymore, streaming is the future.
It’s not MUSIC that’s not worth anything. It’s just BUCKCHERRY MUSIC that’s not!
I’ll take Buckcherry over U2 any day !!
right, if Buckcherry put out music worth buying, I’d buy it.
Nelson makes an excellent point. I think it especially hurts the bands that we love on Eddie’s website.
you could also look at it as…here is a band who has sold millions of records over a few decades and now, that they are beyond financially set, they are still making music…but without the need to recoup the expenses, and are giving something back to the fans. Why is that bad? The sneaking it in part may be distasteful for some but it is their music/product and their right to not charge. If buckcherry’s album sales are down it isnt bec. U2 did this…Keith is full of it.
Apple paid U2 for a 5 week exclusive for the album. So U2 got paid, and I’m guessing it was a lot more than if it had just been released on its own. So when it comes to giving something back to the fans, U2 still hasn’t found what they’re looking for….