Comments on: Why iTunes Needs an “Album-Only” Enema

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:04:39 +0000

It’s not only U2. I found it for “The End” by the doors, and “Mondo Bongo” by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros. Maybe I am just lucky, but 2 songs out of my last 3 searches….

By: Musicians are beginning to get angry over iTunes sales - Page 3 - MacNN Forums

Musicians are beginning to get angry over iTunes sales - Page 3 - MacNN Forums — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:42:59 +0000

[...] allowed to assign tracks "Album Only" at will (it certainly seems that way looking at some of the "Best Of" compilations there), while strongly being discouraged to do so. Instead it appears to be mostly a way to avoid having [...]

By: John

John — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:35:59 +0000

You know what happens when I see “album only” for a song I would like to download? I immediately download it illegally. The entire album. And I don’t feel all that bad, either. I would estimate that this has occurred 7 times. That would have been $70 when I really only needed to spend $7. I realize we’ve gotta work together to make legal downloading work, but this can’t be the way.

I’d rather send a buck to the people who made the music….

By: Sleeping Dogs Lie

Sleeping Dogs Lie — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:06:19 +0000

I’M VICTIMED AS THE ARTIST. I’m an indie rock artist (Sleeping dogs lie) and I have 5 cds on there through my distributer CD Baby and iTunes has changed all of my cds to “album only”. I’m a small artist and very few people will by my music as a full cd. I was doing just fine with the single song downloads. Now, my downloads have dramatically decreased since this lame action from iTunes and the greedy corporate music sleezness. I’ve contacted both CD Baby and iTunes with no response. This is ridiculous. All of my downloads and cd money goes to the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure anyways… I’ll keep fighting as the little guy.. as usual. KEEP UP THE FIGHT!
Best,
Eric

By: Jostermp

Jostermp — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:33:35 +0000

I heard a song on the soundtrack to Bully i want by fatboy slim…went to the album i already own half the album, i guess i downloaded them at different times off the same cd…the song i want is the album only song i wouldn’t mind shelling out the 6 dollars for the other 5 songs i don’t have but i’m not buying the other six that i ALREADY bought off itunes.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:47:27 +0000

ITunes is of course also making profits from this complete scandal… I will go find another place to bring my business.

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 01:36:41 +0000

I’m not sure how to take the whole band/industry angle on this. Tonight I tried to buy single songs from rather obscure bands (Television, Yo la Tengo, etc.), and discovered this phenomenon for the first time. I’m not sure who’s still alive from Television, and I DO think YLT would take $10 for a concert ticket! Maybe the music industry is in on it, but it simply makes sense that Itunes feels more revenue can be generated, and without going into reasons why, they will certainly cut off their nose to spite their face. If it is the industry, then Itunes ought to grow a sack & use its own leverage to stand up to them. It’s all misguided in any case. I agree with above comment…”just steal the music.” I know plently of outlets where I can get exacly what I want for less than ITunes.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 01:04:48 +0000

I appreciate that you keep your blog going and allow comments. To me feedback is an interesting part of a website.

By: Jay Fienberg

Jay Fienberg — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 01:50:15 +0000

If you’re not familiar with it, you might find interesting this Negativeland interview with The Edge. And, coincidentally, there’s already a petition to get Bono to take a stand against DRM.

I think there’s some sense that the members of U2 care about their fans and, because of their success, could have more impact on the policies of the record labels that are not so much in the fans’ interests.

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:30:35 +0000

Thanks for all the great discussion so far! There seems to be a trend toward pointing my frustration at U2 themselves…which is an interesting idea.

Also, I wonder, is there a precedent for this? Has there been a case where a band has overridden or otherwise chosen to release new songs singly on iTunes?

By: Jay Fienberg

Jay Fienberg — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:10:33 +0000

The “music industry” is, of course, really the “disc industry”. And, their business model generally depends on selling discs or some other package that has a similar cost / profit ratio.

Apple’s main concern with the iTMS is that you continue to be willing to pay “disc prices” per song and get, in return, no physical disc and a locked-down, un-owned, TOS-licensed file. Maybe Apple’s own concerns would be different if they weren’t trying to work within the parameters set by the disc industry–it’s hard to say.

But, either way, you’ve got big, self-interested, corporate enterprises mediating between you and the musicians. In the case of U2, you might best direct your complaint to them–at this point, they are the ones who give the disc industry and iTMS the power to get in between the band and their fans.

Many bands get locked into contracts with record labels–record label contracts are very scary. But, a band like U2 with fans like you could choose to work outside of those contracts, and succeed.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 04:41:49 +0000

I understand the feeling, but it seems kind of useless to complain. U2 is a big business. And the record company even bigger. If they only sell 3 news songs for $2.97 to their loyal fans on iTunes, it’s hardly worth the bother. After Apple, the credit card companies, and the government takes their cuts, the record company and U2 will have less than a buck to share, probably much less. Can’t really fault them for trying to make it a commercial success. It’s like asking them to go on tour, charge $10 a ticket and gome home with $500 at the end of the night. If you were U2 would you leave all that money on table?

By: Rich

Rich — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 16:42:59 +0000

I understand how you feel. Not sure whom to blame though, but think about it: Someone says “Let’s put out a greatest hits album, just a few years after the last one.” They only put on the new tracks so that someone would buy the thing. Do the math and you would conclude that everyone stands to make more money to buy the whole album than to just allow fans to buy a couple songs. Otherwise, who would buy it? Further, you shouldn’t be too upset. Afterall, before ITunes, you really couldn’t buy one or two songs (with the exception of 45’s or CD singles). I’ve bought more than a few albums (from other bands) with only one or two good tunes on them. As a huge U2 fan, I purchased the Deluxe Limited Ed. and was very pleased with the Milan concert DVD. It makes it all worth it and necessary for the serious U2 clloector. Anyone know where I can find it on vinyl?

By: kai

kai — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 12:12:20 +0000

It’s a commercial decision. They put 3 new tracks on the Greatest Hits album to get fans like you to buy the whole album.

Otherwise, they would have released it as an EP.

By: Steve Collins

Steve Collins — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 03:54:27 +0000

The RIAA may not like it, but U218 is available on allofmp3 for US$3.30 for the entire album (oddly, not the same as iTS) as well as each song being available on its own.
Pick your format, bitrate and download. All DRM-free.