AC/DC Says Their Songs Will Never Be Available For Download; Rest Of Internet Laughs
from the that's-not-how-it-works dept
Capitalist Lion Tamer points us to the news that the band members of AC/DC are standing firm in saying that they will never allow authorized versions of their music to be sold online for download. The logic here seems to be entirely lacking. The band claims that it's because they want people to listen to the whole albums, not just tracks, but if that's the case then they should just release the whole album as a single track. The fact is that anyone who has their albums can choose to listen however they want. And any time one of their songs is played on the radio, only one song is heard -- yet you don't hear them talk about boycotting radio. But, of course, the bigger issue is that it's silly to not offer an authorized way for people to pay you for your music, when the alternative that plenty of people will choose, instead, is to simply download unauthorized versions where the band has no say at all.![Hide This Hide this](https://ii.techdirt.com/s/t/i/topclose.png)
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Whoops! I've been listening the wrong way for years.
Hey. AC/DC, I'm listening to digital tracks of your music right now, as I type. Do you want money from me or not? If so, throw your tracks on Amazon and make it easy for me to pay you. If not, your loss.
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Done Dirt Cheap
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Somehow I don't think their desires will change the listening habits of a generation. There is a reason people buy single tracks and not albums anymore. The major labels got to where filler was what was served. No one wants the filler. Because they have been stung so long on that, the single song sale is back in fashion.
I wonder how long AC/DC will stay with this idea? Perhaps they haven't heard that the cd and dvd is being phased out. If they don't want to sell their music in singles, that's cool. Someone should remind AC/DC the pirates have a better model.
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This just in...
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Re:
Side One:
1. "Highway to Hell"
2. "Girls Got Rhythm"
3. "Walk All Over You"
4. "Touch Too Much"
5. "Beating Around the Bush"
Side Two
1. "Shot Down in Flames"
2. "Get It Hot"
3. "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)"
4. "Love Hungry Man"
5. "Night Prowler"
That's not a one-hit-wonder album at all! Hell, I think I vaguely recognize like two whole tracks other than the single! That's the sort of album you listen to in full or you don't listen to at all.
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On a quick scan, no "Best Of" either
(A recent TV show reminded me how many cool singles they had, but there's no way I'm going to pick up such an extensive back catalogue when all I really want are the hits that stood the test of time)
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In other news
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Re: Done Dirt Cheap
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"Rest of the Internet" implies that they are also "in the Internet", which they clearly aren't, or else they wouldn't be saying such a stupid thing.
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vocals...
I'm an early 80s baby, so that might be the problem. :D
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AC/DC needs to visit Doc Brown & Marty McFly
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Remake
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Re: Re: Done Dirt Cheap
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AC/DC
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Re: AC/DC
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Internet didn't invent every habit of its users ;)
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Provably false
They're $1.99 and even include instructions on how to "play" the songs. How dare they encourage such flagrant copying?!
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Re: AC/DC
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Re: AC/DC
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Re: On a quick scan, no "Best Of" either
The Best Of was top link for me
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Re: In other news
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Re: vocals...
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Re: Re: AC/DC
And I can't walk more than a few blocks without passing someone in an AC/DC t-shirt. I imagine that they're doing just fine these days.
Also, Back in Black is the second highest selling album *in history*, so I think they might know a little about selling albums. (Let's not forget that they very recently put on the second highest-grossing tour in history as well)
And let's not even ask an Australian about this. AC/DC are practically national heroes over there.
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Re: Re: Re: Done Dirt Cheap
CBMHB
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Done Dirt Cheap
While giving everyone the one-fingered salute.
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Well What Do You Know...
Doesn't ring quite as nice as claiming they're against singles or digital downloads, does it? Basically, this is the story of a band who can afford to stick by their guns and make music on their own terms and release it the way they want. They want to stick to what made them successful and what feels true to their roots. AND THEY MAKE MONEY AT IT, TOO!
These are smart guys (or at least their handlers are). Who would buy an AC/DC single when all of them are already available via Youtube? Check out the music there, and if you like it, pick up an album. A marketing 'ploy' elegant in its simplicity.
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Re: Re: Re: Done Dirt Cheap
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Subjective statement is subjective.
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Re: Re: Done Dirt Cheap
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But, I don't want to do that because I'm a little lazy and my music needs are mainly satisfied by Spotify and the occasional legal freebie download or iTunes gift voucher. I'm not a big enough fan of their music to jump through these hoops. If AC/DC don't want to have my money, that's their choice, but their reasoning is faulty at best.
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Good one!
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Re: Re: AC/DC
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Re: Re: Re: AC/DC
AC/DC is so engrained in our culture that they can get away with telling their fans to go fuck themselves (exactly what's happening here). How many other bands in the world can do that? A dozen? How many bands exist right now? Millions. So we're talking a vary small fraction of a percent success rate.
AC/DC may not care, but the lessen is still valid to millions of others.
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FYI, AC/DC sold their songs as downloads on MSN Music
- RP
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Re: Re: Done Dirt Cheap
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already have everything digitized. but thanks for your statement. now that i know for sure that you dont want my money, ill avoid any "farewell" tours you try to stage as well.
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Re: Well What Do You Know...
With even the Beatles now finally making their music available on iTunes experts say the rockers, whose album Back In Black is the second highest selling in history, are missing out on millions in lost revenue by refusing to allow their work to be sold in the digital marketplace.
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And yet, AC/DC albums have been selling very well
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Good one!
so good that i am thunderstruck.
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While giving everyone the one-fingered salute.
c-c-c-combo breaker!!!
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Re: Re: Re: AC/DC
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Re: Re: Re: AC/DC
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Of course...
THE INTERNET IS DEAD!
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ROFL
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For most other bands, there is no reason to listen in order and the album is a compilation of largely unrelated songs. for them, I don't even bother ever listening to the album as a whole.
My point, is the band and fans both are best served by permitting the fans to listen as they chose. This is true even if you are putting out real albums, and if you are putting out compilations of songs then you cannot even claim an artistic reason to encourage fans to listen to the album.
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Re: Re: In other news
Damn, I hope not. He'd be able to sell them if he chose.
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Re: Provably false
I'm not a die-hard fan, but it looks to me like a complete collection, including several "best of" offerings.
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HOWEVER, how did I get them on my iPod? Simple, I had to borrow the CD's from various friends and burn them onto my hard drive. IF the catalog were available online, I would have simply purchased the albums. I'm still missing some albums and I am looking.
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I heard...
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Re: Re: Re: Re: AC/DC
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Done Dirt Cheap
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: AC/DC
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It's been said that AC/DC only wrote one song, and everything else they've done are simply variations of that song.
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Re: This just in...
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If that was really true, they wouldn't have released any greatest hits albums either...
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: AC/DC
Well, having to ask permission every time one engages in the basic human activity of copying certainly impedes progress, that's for sure.
While I agree with your basic premise that one shouldn't steal, I do not believe that copyright infringement equates to stealing.
I also believe that artists have the right to be compensated for their work, but I do not believe our current copyright system strikes a proper balance between that and the public good, especially in matters concerning the natural progression art (IE: creating new art by building on the works of others).
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/There, I said it.
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Youtube
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AC/DC's dumbshit
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They're all the same
It's the same stuff over and over again; EM / AM / C / G chords alternating with the occasional power chord thrown over the top and then a nice tapped solo with a few bends thrown in.
They're just a band of old men trying to hold onto their fame, they'll all be dead soon, then the new owner of their music will digitally release it and profit. That's sorta what happened with The Beatles.
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At least AC/DC isn't like the zillions of xerox copies of American Idol / Hip-Hop / Rap crap that comes out today.
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Re: Re: On a quick scan, no "Best Of" either
AC/DC seem to think that "the only way to legitimately acquire all of our hits is to buy our entire back catalogue of complete albums" is a reasonable way to conduct business. They're fortunate to have such a large fan base that already has all their old albums, since it isn't exactly a good way to encourage new fans to start paying for anything.
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Re:
"Rap crap," eh? That's very pithy, but it kind of puts you into the "kids off my lawn" camp. "At least X isn't like Y" doesn't excuse limiting your market because you can't get over your own godlike "the album or nothing" image.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: AC/DC
Bewary of "striking balances..."
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As the market buying becomes more and more all about downloading... this attitude is going to make them less and less money.
It's hard to imagine younger people who grow up in the download music world wanting to buy CDs.
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Re:
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: AC/DC
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Re: Well What Do You Know...
People who don't want to listen to them sitting in from of their computer but on their iPod, in their car, etc.?
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Kids beware!
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Re:
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The gods of rock will now eat you! ;)
Actually Though I like a fair amount of older (Bon Scott) AC/DC music they are really not the best Aussie band of that genre, just the one that got marketed more o/s.. The Angels, Rose Tattoo, Spy v Spy, and lets not forget the Oils (Midnight Oil for you ingrates) were a lot better with better music.
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Re: Re: Re: AC/DC
No they aren't actually.
and most Aussies (though we love a fair few of there songs) like a lot of Aussie bands A LOT more
and their music isn't as ubiquitous here as people might think.
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Re: Re: AC/DC
can we please get this printed in big red glowing letters down the bottom of every post just before the comments.
Please.. pretty please.. I'll send you Tim Tams ;) [bribery.. its a gift I keep on giving]
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Re: Kids beware!
:)
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Dirty deeds... done with...baaaaaaaaaa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCRE9qOgbug
And seems this can be downloaded and is for sale from original creator, Bob Rivers!
Warning: What has been heard.. cannot be unheard!
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Of course, the Law of Unintended Consequences has struck and they now have a new problem, as highlighted above. :)
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: AC/DC
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: AC/DC
I just feel that the artists having the opportunity (thanks for correcting me on that below, SteelWolf) to capitalize on their work and the overall public good both are important and neither should trump the other.
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Re: AC/DC
People are allowed to discuss this if they want to. No one on this random blog that I just found directly addressed AC/DC (except one tongue-in-cheek comment) nor did they think AC/DC was going to read their post. By your definition most topics in most forums would be useless. Its not about getting the band to hear you its about conversing.
I wonder Dougy did you get upset people were trashing AC/DC? I can't imagine any other reason why someone would get upset and use capital letters.
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And as Gwendal and a few others have commented - single track listening was created long before the internet. Radio, MTV (and the music video) 45's and Record companies all have contributed to this trend. If anything the blogosphere & the internet has been a fertile ground for indie acts (who do make fully realized albums).
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Re: Re: Re:
And as Gwendal and a few others have commented - single track listening was created long before the internet. Radio, MTV (and the music video) 45's and Record companies all have contributed to this trend. If anything the blogosphere & the internet has been a fertile ground for indie acts (who do make fully realized albums).
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Re: Re: This just in...
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How about a concert stop in Oakland/San Francisco fellas?
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Re:
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AC DC rocks
Go guys!
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I still say the people who buy these damnedable MP3 files are the idiots that run around with little earbuds at max level thinking they're the shit lol. (I'm not the shit for saying that or for rocking the proper headphones... which is rare cause I listen though speakers as one should! (5.1 surround with 75 Watt sub... not huge but WAY better than headsets or those laughable buds!).... These people aught to be shot! They are the cause of the downfall of the sound quality in music!
This group should be elevated on all our shoulders!
http://turnmeup.org/
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Re: RE:
I will buy Digital Downloads of music IF the following is done:
~Volume Normalization is taken out of ALL online ordering processes and sites (Amazon, iTunes, etc.)
~Artists can CHOOSE to put dynamics back into music with NO to VERY little Dynamic Range Compression applied! (compression is of course a choice... er it was at one time maybe sometime soon it will be again if (turn me up!) gets it going again)
If those 2 things are met, then I will purchase digital downloads of music... otherwise I will stick to Hard Copies of music made in the 90's and before. It was the 90's that you really started to see the loudness war start, though sources cite that it started in the 80's... but it was VERY rare at the time.
I think I have the right to belittle those that think that their fav. bands and artist's tracks/albums are better in the way they've been producing things lately. Why do you ask? Well, think about it, the more the ignorant ones buy and listen to these albums with no dynamics, the more the industry thinks they want it... while it's just that they don't know what's going on and just want to hear their favorite piece. Now I don't belittle those JUST for being ignorant... I belittle you for this when you CHOOSE to remain ignorant and just ignore what I and others are saying about this. It's like when people complain about gas/petrol prices and then go buy the most expensive gas they can just cause it's at the closest station! I mean come on.
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I should clarify that last part a bit better:
It's like when people go out and buy the gas at the closest station and don't know they are paying 3 to 5 USD for said gas/petrol. Then someone tells them that there is gas a few miles more down the road for 1.89 USD. Then said person responds: "I don't care, I can't go that far down the road just to pay a few pennies less!"
See my point? It's basically that these people don't care that their music is highly compressed due to dynamics compression, they just want to hear mr. Bieber turn out his (what I feel personally) cheap preformances. (that's personal opinion though so that really doesn't belong in this post... what am I doing here anyways? lol). They just don't realize how much better he and the band behind him would sound if they heard it uncompressed and through proper speakers.
I also don't think you shouldn't be able to go out with the convienent ear buds if you choose to. I just can't stand it when all a person has is an ipod/iphone/ipad and tiny little ear buds and that's their entire knowledge of the world of music for their entire life... almost never hearing it properly over the right sound systems... That's what I'm complaining about here. EVERYONE has the right to rock the tiny buds, but come on. When you're at home, rock a proper headphone or headset if you need to keep volumes for the rest down, and if you don't need to do so... then why the buds dudes/dudettes? If you don't need to keep the volume down at home, go out and buy yourself a proper speaker set. The people at best buy can help get you setup with a good sound system (if they know what their talking about, sometimes they will just try to sell you their most expensive product cause they don't know anything and are corporate rats), or any knowledgeable retail store that sells audio equipment. I'd recommend nothing less than 2.1
I mean if you don't have a sub-wolfer in there somewhere, then it isn't worth buying! You need that sepreate sub to play the low range stuff without that sub's signal messing with the mids and highs produced on the satilite speakers... even if said satilite speakers are HUGE... And I'd recommend no larger than 12" for the sub and speakers! Anymore and it get's flubby unless processed right (concert level processing which costs hundreds of thousands of dollars in the end)
Anyways... enough of this lol... it's gonna be TLDR for many I bet!
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Re:
Look at the Chart Performance. I think they are doing ok.
Last album - Black Ice 5.3 Million sold with little main stream help and no digital downloads!! AWSOME!!
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Kind of sad, isn't it?
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LIE.
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Response to: Rose M. Welch on May 9th, 2011 @ 10:02am
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dowloading ac-dc songs
Atleast make "album only" be an option to purchase.
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AC/DC has the Majic
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Love ac/dc
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Re: Re:
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Re: vocals...
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Napster really did kill the music industry
glad ACDC stuck to their integrity. Metallica was right..Napster did kill the industry.
even if you think you "rebelled" and only do Single track DL now..its not any thing rebellous..all it did was kill the music industry. yea, CD's were Over Priced..at the time it all happened..but now..no new music..really nothing worthy
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music is dying
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