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
Is the free market system the value of something is what the market will bear. So the question is really is this a reflection of the music business or just U2’s current status? No Line on the Horizon (U2’s) last record sold 5 million worldwide with 1.1 million in the US. Which in current times isn’t bad, but is by U2’s lofty standards.
So who has to gain by giving this album away for free? Probably not U2 since they don’t need the money and their accompany tour will be a greatest hits fest anyway.
Instead of pointing the finger at U2 let’s look at the other culprit Apple. Apple is the world’s biggest music retailer. With competition from Google and other sides as well as steaming sites like Spotify.
Plain and simple this isn’t about whether music should be free or not. This is about Apple paying for product exclusivity for the latest offering from one of the biggest bands in the world in order to get people to use their itunes and Apple Devices. Which isn’t a shock given that U2 released their last record early if you ordered it with an accompany iPod.
So in a sense this is no different than what AC/DC and Kiss did releasing Black Ice and Sonic Boom only to Wal-Mart except that Wal-Mart is a traditional brick and mortar store and iTunes isn’t.
You know, good point. I forgot about AC/DC and Kiss doing that. I think some artists do this with Best Buy too. I just hate the whole “corporate sponsorship” that’s permeated everything today. Welcome to the Budweiser Halftime Show, Welcome to the Staples Arena, Welcome to the Dunkin Donuts Center, XFinity Center, whatever. Those companies didn’t build any of those places, they just paid a fee and slapped their name on them. Next thing I’ll be going into a public restroom and see “this Urinal brought to you by (insert name) corporation”, and when that licensing contract expires it’ll have some other company to replace it. I know the infusion of money is necessary, but where does it stop? It just feels like every corner of life now is a sales pitch.
I use to think that having a iPod with my entire library of music was great
Now I’m see Eddies view of things I miss liner notes I miss the physicality
Feels like a terrorist attack to me Sometimes u get som sort of digital book that gets included on the cd version but not often. I found downloads are Cheeper and can get more music but what’s the use if my music is not there to download like I told Dana I eclectic but if only things left is Katie perry,
Crappy modern pop can’t take that I used like U2 in old days but they lost me on Vertigo
So support ur local record store u can burn your CDs old days I did know places like vintage vynel
In New Jersey ( shameless plug) with a huge metal assortment and other music
I remember driving to work and downloading the Mettalica ep of leftover songs from Death Magnetic
As I was download to my phone it just felt toooo weird
So keep it up Eddie if we all are united maybe metal will return
I never did “get” U2. And as for Buckcherry, if these guys are gonna inherit the crowns of AC/DC, KISS, etc, we are in sad shape.
U2 got $100,000,000 from Apple to give their new CD away. Yes. No joke. One hundred million dollars. It’s not that music isn’t “worth anything”…. U2 made a great business deal with Apple. Any band would be out of their mind not to do the same thing if they were in U2s position. Gene and Paul would do it.
BuckCherry wouldn’t make a hair on U2 ASS