AC/DC Claim Their Albums Have Sold Better Without iTunes

AC/DC guitarist Angus Young has insisted that albums from the bands back-catalogue have sold better without the help of Apple's online music store iTunes.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Young said they would continue their boycott of the service for as long as they refused to allow artists to lock their albums.

The store, which has been credited with reforming the way people buy music, allows users to download individual songs from albums, as well as the full release.

"We don't make singles, we make albums," Young told the newspaper. "We honestly 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 - and we don't think that represents us musically."

He added: "We've actually increased our back catalogue sales without being on the site, and at the time we were sternly warned by our management team and our record label that the complete opposite would be the case."

Young claimed that the band's resistance to iTunes had attracted the attention of two major acts who were also concerned about their music. He refused to name either band.

Earlier this year, Elbow frontman Guy Garvey also voiced his displeasure with the online store.

He told Gigwise that Apple must allow artists to lock their releases or face the album "dying as an art form".

Thanks for the report to Gigwise.com.

Comments

[kranoscorp]

Good for AC/DC! Apple is really overstepping its bounds with itunes, they are not consulting the artists at all about any of the sales.

[mlukeroberts222]

I agree 110% with ACDC!! Real fans will by the entire album, but there just doesn't seem to be as many rock and roll fans nowadays. Everybody is "commercialized" and only wants to listen to what's big on the radio, especially the younger generation. Thank you ACDC for taking a stand!!

[Mikeyw1233]

Yeah! I hate buying singles, I hate having half-albums

[slash_rocks2005]

i agree with their reasoning. AC/DC has proven multiple times that it does more than just a couple hits on an entire album. Besides, i never listen to just one or two AC/DC songs at a time...usually at LEAST half an album's worth of songs at a time...and if i'm driving, well that's why i've got 3 or 4 of their albums on my iPod

[weemansyndrome]

I hate only listening to one or two songs on the album. Unfortunately I don't think enough bands would join in AC/DCs view, selling singles earns too much money.

[ozzynator]

I agree with AC/DC. i dont like this whole download thing, i stick with buying CD's.

[cam_sampbell]

Go Acca Dacca!

[MoshMaster101]

This is exactly why a band such as Radiohead have allowed their music to be available online away from I-Tunes. They too make albums, not singles, and by doing it somewhere else people download the album as an entire entity.

I think they'd be even better off if they follow suit and allow their albums to be up for download.

[Lotz222]

iTunes is for pop/rap garbage where there is only 1 or 2 good songs on a album. If a band like AC/DC comes out with a new album, you get the whole thing.

[Ead]

hell yea! I alawys fuond every AC/DC album has a distinct flavour of rock to it, and for me the feel of an AC/DC album is strongly tied together by ALL the songs on it.

[KyuNaynne]

I think they're right, hope more artists join them.. don't let the cd's diee!!

[pwrmax]

This is why I never buy 'Greatest Hits' albums.

[MXFNCK]

never thought of it like that, I think theres some truth there

[CSUTremonti777]

You know what? If people want to only buy one or two songs...thats their right. If they want the whole album, they'll buy the whole damn album. This makes me lose alot of respect for these guys. I didnt know that AC/DC were such luddites.

iTunes is the way the industry is now, like it or not. Sorry AC/DC you're time is over, if you're not willing to change.

[RonMexico]

I have never and will never buy anything from this band. I hear all I need to from the radio. And all of their songs do sound the same.

[sottpwn]

Nice, completely agree. An album (in REAL music atleast) isn't just a collection of songs. It's a ride that goes through many emotions and attitudes before it finally ends.

Being able to buy individual songs from an album completely defeats the object of albums, otherwise artists would just release 10 singles rather than an album.

pwrmax :
This is why I never buy 'Greatest Hits' albums.

Very valid point.

[HardRockKid]

thats what i thought the reason was way to go ac/dc stick it to itunes

[LOG4Life]

Tool is another band that's not on Itunes, right?

[explosionate]

I'm not sure because I don't buy from itunes, but is it not possible for a band to have just the album as a whole for sale on itunes instead of also having individual songs for download? I know amazon does that.....
...interesting.

[Vivec]

Starting to see the flag of Sellouticca here aren't we?

[Regibald]

Nice, completely agree. An album (in REAL music atleast) isn't just a collection of songs. It's a ride that goes through many emotions and attitudes before it finally ends.

Being able to buy individual songs from an album completely defeats the object of albums, otherwise artists would just release 10 singles rather than an album.

I completely agree...well said!

Good on them...sticking to their beliefs. Go AC/DC!!!

[Rev2Ten]

Go AC/DC for not conforming to the crap of the music industry of today! They have more common sense than most bands

[Regibald]

ooops sorry for double post

Nice, completely agree. An album (in REAL music atleast) isn't just a collection of songs. It's a ride that goes through many emotions and attitudes before it finally ends.

Being able to buy individual songs from an album completely defeats the object of albums, otherwise artists would just release 10 singles rather than an album.

I completely agree...well said!

Good on them...sticking to their beliefs. Go AC/DC!!!

[Veroth]

Ive been listening to acdc since before i can remember, and i understand what they want, but when it comes down to it, you either change with the times or you die and hope you leave a mark on the pages of history. I personally dont like Itunes but i need it to put music on my ipod and as it happens i never put singles on its always the entire album or not at all.

[rock_star77]

No, sorry. They are sellouts... well, they have been for a long time, but it has reached a new low.

They are alright with RELEASING singles, but not alright with SELLING singles? Could it be because they only make a buck a song as a single, meanwhile, making 30 cents more per song on average if they sell the whole abum?

I don't know if you have ever listened to an entire AC/DC album all the way through, but from the first note to the last, there is very little change. Why would I pay you for 180 mins of the same thing, when I only want 3 mins and 45 seconds of it?

It is MY RIGHT to buy a single, or only the songs I like. If you want me to buy them all, work harder to make them all worth buying.

[sowhat360]

MoshMaster101 wrote:

This is exactly why a band such as Radiohead have allowed their music to be available online away from I-Tunes. They too make albums, not singles, and by doing it somewhere else people download the album as an entire entity.

I think they'd be even better off if they follow suit and allow their albums to be up for download.

how about letting people buy whatever the hell they want? and i'm sick of hearing about the radiohead album thing...i haven't heard a radiohead album yet where i thought every song was good but i have heard radiohead songs that i like. i dont want to buy/hear/get tortured by their slow dramatic need to be on massive drugs to listen to songs.

[FenderMaster]

While I think that people shouldnt be forced to buy albums, I must admit that the death of album sales is worrying, I still only buy CD's, mainly bcause I like having something tangible, + I can rip songs from it, and swop CD's with friends

I dunno, I'm starting to feel like an old man in a digital age...and im only 22!!

[SoulMusiq77]

I think AC/DC just wants more money. I mean it just doesn't make sense. One, they would get a bigger fanbase because people have been BEGGING to get bands like AC/DC onto iTunes. Two, it's true that some people would just end up buying a song or two from the album instead of the whole thing but I don't think that matters. Real musicians don't care for the money. Some people just don't like AC/DC's albums as a whole. In a way it would be like ordering a value meal from Mc Donalds just to get the Big Mac and not eat the upsized drink and fries. It would be a waste of money. And three, AC/DC have enough money in their pockets why not just share their awesome music with people who may not be able to afford CD after CD. Hypothetically let's just say I only have about 5 spare dollars to spend on whatever I want at the end of the month after paying bills and whatnot. I go to Best Buy to search for AC/DC's Let There Be Rock album only to find that it's 10 dollars. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH so I have to wait until I get more money in account just so I can buy an album I only want for say 4 or 5 songs off of it. I'd be wasting the other say 5 dollars worth and to some people saving as much money as possible is mandatory.

Now don't get me wrong, I love all of AC/DC's albums. But this shit they have with iTunes IMHO is pretty gay. And the people who are saying "GOOD FOR THEM only modern pop/punk/hip-hop crap are on iTunes blah blah blah." Well there are plenty of classic rock bands on iTunes like CCR, Doobie Brothers, Pink Floyd, Scorpions, Rush, and actually most of the classic rock genre that have decided to not follow AC/DC's somewhat selfish and stupid acts agains iTunes.

[mashedpotatoes]

itunes i must agree is quite a joke

[FenderMaster]

+

does anyone know why artists dont hust offer mp3 downloads from their own bands websites? why give apple anything, why not cut out the middle man?

[aquabot]

I personally find this b/s. Im not a die hard fan of ac/dc but I have a few of their albums and I do enjoy their music from time to time.
But this thing with Itunes is stupid, I buy from itunes all the time. and verry rarely do I buy just singles. I normally buy the full album.
Like rock_star77 said, it is the consumers right to buy what they want. I wont be getting this album now because I prefer digital distribution, I might torrent it, but hey.... thats ac/dc's fault for not putting it on itunes.

[jshwak]

ok, I love AC/DC.. and I understand completely w/ what they're saying. However, it's odd that what they are Boycotting Itunes for; is what helped to fuel the File sharing boom in the first place.. People were tired of having to buy entire Albums when they were only interested in one or two songs..

In the post file sharing world, you have to adapt, or else not make any $$ at all, because all of your material is going to be pirated by those who don't want the entire album !!!

ps. (I hate I-tunes) !

[theotherguy7145]

aquabot wrote:

I personally find this b/s. Im not a die hard fan of ac/dc but I have a few of their albums and I do enjoy their music from time to time.
But this thing with Itunes is stupid, I buy from itunes all the time. and verry rarely do I buy just singles. I normally buy the full album.
Like rock_star77 said, it is the consumers right to buy what they want. I wont be getting this album now because I prefer digital distribution, I might torrent it, but hey.... thats ac/dc's fault for not putting it on itunes.

AcDcs choice not to put it on itunes. Personally i'd prefer the actual matirial album rather than download a few Mb from itunes.
Its up to them what they do with their music! Go AcDc!!!!!

[wideheim]

rock_star77 wrote:

No, sorry. They are sellouts... well, they have been for a long time, but it has reached a new low.

They are alright with RELEASING singles, but not alright with SELLING singles? Could it be because they only make a buck a song as a single, meanwhile, making 30 cents more per song on average if they sell the whole abum?

I don't know if you have ever listened to an entire AC/DC album all the way through, but from the first note to the last, there is very little change. Why would I pay you for 180 mins of the same thing, when I only want 3 mins and 45 seconds of it?

It is MY RIGHT to buy a single, or only the songs I like. If you want me to buy them all, work harder to make them all worth buying.

No, it's not your right to only buy a couple of songs if the artist has decided that their work isnt going to be available in that way.

[jshwak]

No, it's not your right to only buy a couple of songs if the artist has decided that their work isnt going to be available in that way.

and that's why they are only fueling illegal music downloads !! they're going to make less, because this is how people are going to feel..
"I'm not going to by the album, I'll d/l it first because I"m not wasting the money on 12 songs that I don't want"

[PenFighter19]

rock_star77 wrote:
I don't know if you have ever listened to an entire AC/DC album all the way through, but from the first note to the last, there is very little change. Why would I pay you for 180 mins of the same thing, when I only want 3 mins and 45 seconds of it?

Because you sir are a part of a new musical genreation thats only interested in whats good enough to be on the radio, as opposed to following bands and artists with enough talent to produce more than one decent song.
Youre the product of a musical market whos only concern is putting everything they can in front of your face so youll buy something.
The same people that buy one song from Ashlee Simpson and talk to all of their friends about how amazing it is. Then a week later buy Lil Wayne's latest (bulls)hit and do the same d*mn thing over again. Its like Kurt Coabin said, "If thats what they want to talk about then oh well. Theyre not music fans." And youre the same.

I dont care if theyre songs have the same sound. Its fcukin AC/DC! Why should they sound like anything else?
A serious question here. Why do kids nowadays 'care' about the 'evolution' of a band? First of all, a band should do what they want. There is no evolution there. Theres growth as individuals and that reflects in subject matter. Theres growth as musicians and that reflects in music. 'Evolution' of music is done through a community of bands and listeners, not within one band. Dont bullsh*t your way acting like you care about the personal growth of these people. You dont know them! They only mean as much to you as the music they make.
Rap, Funk, R&B, Metal, Punk, Rockabily, I dont care. Just make that sh*t rock.

[lockedandlogan]

Les Paul Ell wrote:

subopolois1 wrote:

you know why nobody would buy thier songs from itunes? because all their fans are little kids who dont know how to use a computer and get their mommies to buy the albums for them. your time is up acdc, go crawl into your graves and die already, all your songs sound the same

Shup. It's a good thing that all their songs sound the same! They never changed with trends, AC/DC is one band that you can always rely on!

That can be largely attributed to them only knowing three or four chords. Way to be, AC/DC.

I'm assuming I was supposed to pick up on sarcasm in Les Paul Ell's post.

Checked

[fireoptic]

mlukeroberts222 wrote:

I agree 110% with ACDC!! Real fans will by the entire album, but there just doesn't seem to be as many rock and roll fans nowadays. Everybody is "commercialized" and only wants to listen to what's big on the radio, especially the younger generation. Thank you ACDC for taking a stand!!

AC/DC are hardly taking a stand. AC/DC are also commercialized.

Is Black Ice still going to be a Wal-Mart exclusive?

[the_bear_shark]

The same people that buy one song from Ashlee Simpson and talk to all of their friends about how amazing it is. Then a week later buy Lil Wayne's latest (bulls)hit and do the same d*mn thing over again. Its like Kurt Coabin said, "If thats what they want to talk about then oh well. Theyre not music fans." And youre the same.

If people like that music, they like it, it's not your ****ing place to say that they're not real music fans because of that.

Everybody's tastes are the same, somebody who may connect and relate to Ashlee Simpson's music, and not the music you may listen to (whatever tha may be) is no more or less of a "music fan" then you are.

Who gives a flying **** if people like Pop/Rap? It's their tastes, not yours, why should you give a shit?

[lockedandlogan]

PenFighter19 wrote:

rock_star77 wrote:
I don't know if you have ever listened to an entire AC/DC album all the way through, but from the first note to the last, there is very little change. Why would I pay you for 180 mins of the same thing, when I only want 3 mins and 45 seconds of it?


Because you sir are a part of a new musical genreation thats only interested in whats good enough to be on the radio, as opposed to following bands and artists with enough talent to produce more than one decent song.
Youre the product of a musical market whos only concern is putting everything they can in front of your face so youll buy something.
The same people that buy one song from Ashlee Simpson and talk to all of their friends about how amazing it is. Then a week later buy Lil Wayne's latest (bulls)hit and do the same d*mn thing over again. Its like Kurt Coabin said, "If thats what they want to talk about then oh well. Theyre not music fans." And youre the same.

I dont care if theyre songs have the same sound. Its fcukin AC/DC! Why should they sound like anything else?
A serious question here. Why do kids nowadays 'care' about the 'evolution' of a band? First of all, a band should do what they want. There is no evolution there. Theres growth as individuals and that reflects in subject matter. Theres growth as musicians and that reflects in music. 'Evolution' of music is done through a community of bands and listeners, not within one band. Dont bullsh*t your way acting like you care about the personal growth of these people. You dont know them! They only mean as much to you as the music they make.
Rap, Funk, R&B, Metal, Punk, Rockabily, I dont care. Just make that sh*t rock.

I'm going to have to side with rock_star77 on this one. While generally I agree that albums are important and bands that write albums for a single are lame, I have to agree that AC/DC albums might as well be one extremely long song due to extreme lack of differentiation.

You're basically saying that him thinking this makes him a tool to the mainstream overly advertised side of the music industry while at the same time you're the one who says you don't care if their songs have the same sound because "It's fcuking AC/DC!" Does this do anything more than make you similarly a slave to what classic rock is widely accepted as "good"?

[manson_6sic6]

pwrmax wrote:

This is why I never buy 'Greatest Hits' albums.

Same here. And I think that every band should feel this way.

[chazzore]

Well maybe if ac/dc was a halfway decent band people would buy their whole album. I mean every song on every album they have sounds exactly the same. You dont here about modern day metal and hardcore acts having this problem cause they dont write good songs, they write phenomenal albums.

For instance go check out suicide season by bring me the horizon.

[Hardknocks]

ozzynator wrote:

I agree with AC/DC. i dont like this whole download thing, i stick with buying CD's.

They do have an excellent point. I mean, I rarely spend money, but when I buy music, it's usually at FYE. I mean, I'll buy on iTunes, but I prefer to buy CDs, because you get the whole package.

[chazzore]

also if you think repetitive power chords and childish lead riffs are good music then your a close minded person. What ac/dc writes could be written by anyone who has played any instrument for a couple of years. So please stop defending this horrible band.

[GuitarHero0715]

I dont really agree with this.

Some people dont want the whole cd, some people only want to listen to a few songs, they dont want the "vibe" of the album, they just want to listen to a few things that sound good to them, not indulge in an emotional musical adventure everytime they listen to an album, so theyd only want a few songs.

[chazzore]

Well maybe if ac/dc was a halfway decent band people would buy their whole album. I mean every song on every album they have sounds exactly the same. You dont here about modern day metal and hardcore acts having this problem cause they dont write good songs, they write phenomenal albums.

For instance go check out suicide season by bring me the horizon.

[mdlarry7]

"We don't make singles, we make albums,"

lol, too bad most of their songs are exactly the same or this statement would actually be credible

[trendkill-]

hell yeah ac/dckeep avoid the apple/ipod trend

[kennyvspenny]

hell yeah albums still matter!

[xKingBeex]

rock_star77 wrote:

No, sorry. They are sellouts... well, they have been for a long time, but it has reached a new low.

They are alright with RELEASING singles, but not alright with SELLING singles? Could it be because they only make a buck a song as a single, meanwhile, making 30 cents more per song on average if they sell the whole abum?

I don't know if you have ever listened to an entire AC/DC album all the way through, but from the first note to the last, there is very little change. Why would I pay you for 180 mins of the same thing, when I only want 3 mins and 45 seconds of it?

It is MY RIGHT to buy a single, or only the songs I like. If you want me to buy them all, work harder to make them all worth buying.

And its AC/DC's right to choose how they want the songs THEY created released.. I agree with you that alot of AC/DC's songs sound the same (majority of them are in the key of A) however it is still theirs to do as they wish.. and i dont think their doing it to make more money or they wouldnt have gone against what their producers and managers urged them to do. if they wanted money they would have gone with itunes they would have made alot more in downloads then album sales

[chazzore]

Trendkill itunes does not take anymore of the profit that wal-mart or fye. And does a band not strike you as a sell out when they wont allow you to listen to just one of their songs because it makes them less money. If my music was being downloaded for free i wouldnt be mad it, atleast people want to listen to me and that is what music is supposed to be about.

[lockedandlogan]

Think about how little of album sale profits go to the artist, anyway. Should we really concern ourselves so much with how much money a band's label makes?

Download the music for free somewhere, then go see the band in concert and buy a shirt from them, that's what I say.

[dan-the-man278]

What I don't get is why an album has to be one or the other - why should it be EITHER "an album" OR a "collection of songs."

I'm sick of this pretentious nonsense where it's "I'm a real music fan, I only buy full albums." I love albums. I love singles. I love songs on albums. So what!?

[edgeyyz]

This was one of Led Zeppelin's hangups, they never released singles, just albums, but they finally gave in.

[davlop91]

Nobody ever buys music from iTunes anyway. People just go to websites where they can download their favorite music for free. It's obviously illegal but since its free, they do it!
AC/DC Rocks! They're always right, man.

[insurgentsteve]

yeah, but then the bands need to create good albums, and only a few bands do, so if you want to lock the albums then you must be graded on how good your albums are because i don't want a crapload of filler.

[davlop91]

I think iTunes messed up the way to own music. Why the **** whould you buy an entire album online instead of buying it at a store, own the CD, and copy it to your computer?
What would you rather have, a CD with songs you can touch and look thru, or an album that only exists in your PC and is not physical?

[A3r0sm1th]

still wish they'd use iTunes...

[dudebud]

I agree with everything except...

"If we were on iTunes, we know a certain percentage of people would only download two or three songs from the album - and we don't think that represents us musically."

I would beg to differ. AC/DC is great but there is only so many times a non-fan could hear A - D - G - E .

I haven't personally heard an "album" in a while. Many collections of songs but few "albums" in the true musician's sense of the term. I haven't heard anything like Sgt. Peppers or Pet Sounds or Dark Side of The Moon in a lonnng time.

I would argue that AC/DC has a MASSIVE fan base of people who would only buy a couple songs off an album.

[davlop91]

Yeah, dude but making music is the artist's only job. They gotta live out of something. Their talent is worth something.

chazzore wrote:

Trendkill itunes does not take anymore of the profit that wal-mart or fye. And does a band not strike you as a sell out when they wont allow you to listen to just one of their songs because it makes them less money. If my music was being downloaded for free i wouldnt be mad it, atleast people want to listen to me and that is what music is supposed to be about.

[xcmasta91]

"We don't make singles, we make albums," Young told the newspaper. "We honestly believe the songs on any of our albums belong together."

Thats cause all your songs sound the same

[davlop91]

Wow! You're such an ignorant...its not anyones right but the artits and the producer's. They make the music you listen to it because the want you to not because you do.

trendkill- wrote:

CSUTremonti777 wrote:

You know what? If people want to only buy one or two songs...thats their right. If they want the whole album, they'll buy the whole damn album. This makes me lose alot of respect for these guys. I didnt know that AC/DC were such luddites.

iTunes is the way the industry is now, like it or not. Sorry AC/DC you're time is over, if you're not willing to change.


ur an idiot
itunes take way to much of the money they make of people stuff its gay
and its classic rock so we use classic methods

[ColdbringeR]

This is a load. They don't make albums first. They make songs first and then shape them into an album. Some of those songs people don't care for, so why should they have to pay for them? I, myself, have never used iTunes and buy all of my CDs in the store. That's my choice though, and iTunes doesn't take away that choice, so why should I care what iTunes does? This isn't about whether AC/DC wants to sell singles or albums. It's about them wanting more money by forcing people to buy more of their music. Anyone who thinks otherwise is being naive.

[Nightfyre]

LOG4Life wrote:

Tool is another band that's not on Itunes, right?

Yep, and for basically the same reason. The songs on Tool's albums are designed to be heard as part of a whole, not just as singles.
I still use iTunes occasionally, but only to buy some classical cd I'm looking for that isn't available anywhere else (it happens). Other than that, I avoid it. I guess I'm old-school, I like having a hard copy and I care about sound quality. CDs give me both. It's not like they're that much more expensive... Amazon is cheap, and having full rights to your music is completely worth it.
Kudos to AC/DC for sticking to their guns. I do have a few bands that I only own singles from, but that's the exception to the rule. They have the right to decide how their music is distributed, and if Apple can't accept that tough luck.
dudebud: anything by Ayreon, Opeth, Tool, or Porcupine Tree (especially Fear of a Blank Planet). Most good jazz albums. BTBAM's "Colors". Both Russian Circles albums. I think of Planet X's "Quantum" as an album, same for Pelican's "City of Echoes". The Battle of Los Angeles. The album in its purest sense is a dying art form, yes, but it was rare to begin with. They're still out there, though.

Checked.

[brentondig]

It's obvious that AC/DC doesn't need iTunes to help sell their albums. They've been selling them for a couple decades before Apple started "dominating" the music industry.

[brentondig]

xcmasta91 wrote:

"We don't make singles, we make albums," Young told the newspaper. "We honestly believe the songs on any of our albums belong together."

Thats cause all your songs sound the same

Also +1 haha
They all sound the same post-Highway to Hell, though.

[audioslave41413]

ya sounds like they are having trouble admiting their new album isn't all that great. if your album is good enough ppl will buy the whole album..if its not ppl are just going to download the 2 or 3 songs that are good on it

[lockedandlogan]

davlop91 wrote:

Wow! You're such an ignorant...its not anyones right but the artits and the producer's. They make the music you listen to it because the want you to not because you do.

lol @ "Wow you're such an ignorant"

Irony...

[RHDIII]

i hate acdc

but good for them, this is a good thing to stand up for and im gladf it worked

[Gibson_SG_uzr55]

I agree totally.


Fuck singles, they're stupid. If you're gonna listen to something, listen to the whole damn album. And if you only like one song from them, then is it really worth it?

Anyway, I dont download, I still buy CDs, and I will be buying their new one

[Haunted_Shell]

ac/dc sounds the same on every track of every album, so who wants to buy it in general. I'd rather eat the rotten ******* of a road kill skunk and down it with beer (props to AVGN)

[punkrockpirate]

"If we were on iTunes, we know a certain percentage of people would only download two or three songs from the album - and we don't think that represents us musically."

Two or three? If someone downloads a single AC/DC song, they have a representation of their entire sonic repertoire. Axl's a killer guitarist, and many of their songs are undeniable classics, but good lord what a monotonous band.
And my two cents about the whole Itunes/Apple/Downloading music thing is if you produce a quality album, people will buy it. That simple. If you produce a couple good songs, well, people will buy just those. Honestly, I'm not really sure AC/DC is still relevant.

[Ledzepjunkie88]

YOU GO AC/DC! STICK TO THAT MILLIONAIRE FAG STEVE JOBS! YEAH!

[SG1]

cd's are cool
ac/dc Rocks!
I've bought their cd's and will continue(:

[MotorbreathX]

Some of you really amaze me. You judge others musical taste by the way they want to listen to their music. How much of a ****ing snob can you be? If I want to hear a single or the last song on an album only, I'm going to buy those two songs. I'm not going to buy the whole album because "that's how it should be". This is a new generation, like it or not, and the new CD is digital distribution. It doesn't matter if it's iTunes or not. I bought Death Magnetic via Metallica's website and they let me have a digital copy and they sent me the actual disc. The physical one just sits in its case in my closet. What a ****ing waste of plastic. I'll never use the physical one and will go digital from here on out.

If a band wants me to only buy the full album because of some odd "experience" they want me to have then I'm not buying it. It's better to sell me a song or two then for me to pass on the entire album and not even give your future albums a chance.

I love SOME of your songs AC/DC, so get it together or you lost me.

[GR1NG0_SU4V3]

I can respect that

[GREENWARRI0R]

If they buy single songs maybe it's because thats all they like that you make?? If the album is good enough, they'll buy it in its entirety. While I still buy CD's, i like having iTunes for purchasing singles of bands or groups whose music I don't like as much as ones who I would buy an entire CD of. Sounds like they are hungry for money to me.

[MotorbreathX]

GREENWARRI0R wrote:

If they buy single songs maybe it's because thats all they like that you make?? If the album is good enough, they'll buy it in its entirety. While I still buy CD's, i like having iTunes for purchasing singles of bands or groups whose music I don't like as much as ones who I would buy an entire CD of. Sounds like they are hungry for money to me.

Agreed.

[AndyVanHalen]

Morons.

They lost a dollar from me when I needed a song for something. Went and illegally downloaded it because it wasn't on iTunes.

[playinbass1432]

Everyone that's pointing fingers at them for just wanting money...you have to realize that the artists get just about **** all from album sales. They make their money by going out on the road and selling merchandise.

Good for AC/DC.

[otherkid]

go acdc! Im really glad that a major artist is standing up to the monopoly that is Apple. The fact they are taking some band's music and saying they get exclusive songs when they aren't is just lying.

[SkidRow92]

by "represent us musically" does he mean "doesn't give us much money"?

[Findinghomer]

damn, they dont want you to only buy their one or two good songs (i thy eally had any), they want to force you to buy all their crappy ones too

[ratedpg]

Fight the future!!! You'll always win.

[USERNAMEARON]

I am completely behind AC/DC on there point but where i live, the music store's suck, the only album i could get was back in black, im just saying it would be handy if there back catalog were on iTunes.

[tom-the-lawn]

PenFighter19 wrote:

rock_star77 wrote:
I don't know if you have ever listened to an entire AC/DC album all the way through, but from the first note to the last, there is very little change. Why would I pay you for 180 mins of the same thing, when I only want 3 mins and 45 seconds of it?



Because you sir are a part of a new musical genreation thats only interested in whats good enough to be on the radio, as opposed to following bands and artists with enough talent to produce more than one decent song.
Youre the product of a musical market whos only concern is putting everything they can in front of your face so youll buy something.
The same people that buy one song from Ashlee Simpson and talk to all of their friends about how amazing it is. Then a week later buy Lil Wayne's latest (bulls)hit and do the same d*mn thing over again. Its like Kurt Coabin said, "If thats what they want to talk about then oh well. Theyre not music fans." And youre the same.

I dont care if theyre songs have the same sound. Its fcukin AC/DC! Why should they sound like anything else?
A serious question here. Why do kids nowadays 'care' about the 'evolution' of a band? First of all, a band should do what they want. There is no evolution there. Theres growth as individuals and that reflects in subject matter. Theres growth as musicians and that reflects in music. 'Evolution' of music is done through a community of bands and listeners, not within one band. Dont bullsh*t your way acting like you care about the personal growth of these people. You dont know them! They only mean as much to you as the music they make.
Rap, Funk, R&B, Metal, Punk, Rockabily, I dont care. Just make that sh*t rock.

And you sir are ****ing stupid. You might want to sit down and have a crumpet because this might startle you or god forbid cause you to type up another four paragraphs of "You're a conformist and I'm hardcore blah blah blah" horse shit.
AC/DC have been doing the same damn thing for the past twenty years or so. Oh and by the way just because you don't listen to AC/DC doesn't mean you listen to Ashlee Simpson.

[MotorbreathX]

Ledzepjunkie88 wrote:

MotorbreathX wrote:

Some of you really amaze me. You judge others musical taste by the way they want to listen to their music. How much of a ****ing snob can you be? If I want to hear a single or the last song on an album only, I'm going to buy those two songs. I'm not going to buy the whole album because "that's how it should be". This is a new generation, like it or not, and the new CD is digital distribution. It doesn't matter if it's iTunes or not. I bought Death Magnetic via Metallica's website and they let me have a digital copy and they sent me the actual disc. The physical one just sits in its case in my closet. What a ****ing waste of plastic. I'll never use the physical one and will go digital from here on out.

If a band wants me to only buy the full album because of some odd "experience" they want me to have then I'm not buying it. It's better to sell me a song or two then for me to pass on the entire album and not even give your future albums a chance.

I love SOME of your songs AC/DC, so get it together or you lost me.

Wat a fag. got to hell

Well said. Will do.

[SLD.Potato]

You know, people buy the albums on CD and just skip half the tracks anyways.

[Tubyboulin]

SoulMusiq77 wrote:
Now don't get me wrong, I love all of AC/DC's albums. But this shit they have with iTunes IMHO is pretty gay.

I respected your oppinion up till there. Gay =/= synonym for stupid

I dont think ive ever downloaded an AC/DC Song. i want the full albums. Just isnt the same to not have it all for me :p:

[tom-the-lawn]

Gibson_SG_uzr55 wrote:
Fuck singles, they're stupid. If you're gonna listen to something, listen to the whole damn album. And if you only like one song from them, then is it really worth it?

No they're not, they're just songs on cds that are among the easier ones to get in to. They play them on TV/ the radio and whatever and if you like the song then you can check out the full cd.
Or if you already know the band they give you a taste of what the new cd's going to be like. Although then again maybe AC/DC don't need singles because you know it's going to sound the same as all the previous stuff but it doesn't mean every other band is lacks creativity.

[recliner33]

I respect AC/Dc's decision for doing this, it's their music and they can release it anyway they want.

Go to a local car dealership and ask them if you can buy a new car but pay less for it if you just take the parts you want. They will tell you to **** right off.
I know that is a bad comparison, but I feel the same way about music. If I was in AC/DC's shoes I would do the same thing. There are so many people out there that claim they are huge fans of certain bands and they only heard one or two of their songs. Itunes makes access to music easier for these posers.

checked.

[RequiemofDemons]

Kudos to AC/DC, lol just buy the damn album, the artists put a shit load of time into it so the least you can do is buy the whole thing. I respect what they are doing, alot more artists should follow suit, I still go out and buy cd's all the time trying to support artists that I like, resorting to Itunes to buy a cd if theres no way for me to get out of town and buy it. Over all I think it's a smart move, they have a wife enough fan base not to worry about it haha im sure almost everyone who's an acdc fan at heart is just going to run out and buy the album...well assuming you want it lol..no questions asked.

[xJOHNx]

rock_star77 wrote:

No, sorry. They are sellouts... well, they have been for a long time, but it has reached a new low.

They are alright with RELEASING singles, but not alright with SELLING singles? Could it be because they only make a buck a song as a single, meanwhile, making 30 cents more per song on average if they sell the whole abum?

I don't know if you have ever listened to an entire AC/DC album all the way through, but from the first note to the last, there is very little change. Why would I pay you for 180 mins of the same thing, when I only want 3 mins and 45 seconds of it?

It is MY RIGHT to buy a single, or only the songs I like. If you want me to buy them all, work harder to make them all worth buying.

you suck.

[xJOHNx]

xcmasta91 wrote:

"We don't make singles, we make albums," Young told the newspaper. "We honestly believe the songs on any of our albums belong together."

Thats cause all your songs sound the same

u suck too.

[xJOHNx]

CSUTremonti777 wrote:

You know what? If people want to only buy one or two songs...thats their right. If they want the whole album, they'll buy the whole damn album. This makes me lose alot of respect for these guys. I didnt know that AC/DC were such luddites.

iTunes is the way the industry is now, like it or not. Sorry AC/DC you're time is over, if you're not willing to change.

u suck as well.

[Thyrfing]

Good job stickin it to the man.

[BuffaloBills91]

The people saying that AC/DC are sellouts because they don't want people to buy individual songs must not be musicians

Think about all the time it takes to think of an idea for a song, write it, have the other members put their spin on it, record it, mix and master it, and release it.
If you worked hard on doing that 10+ times for every album would you just want one or two songs thrown around carelessly ?

I know I would want people to get the whole essence of the album.
Plus, if people buy the whole album for just a song, they might get into the other stuff.

Kudos on keeping your integrity AC/DC !

[xJOHNx]

RonMexico wrote:

I have never and will never buy anything from this band. I hear all I need to from the radio. And all of their songs do sound the same.

you can join all the others that suck too.

[tom-the-lawn]

Well I'm all for hearing an album as a whole but some only have a couple of good songs and like some of the others guys said if it's either the whole thing or nothing people are going to pick nothing, or download it off limewire or something.

[xJOHNx]

AndyVanHalen wrote:

Morons.

They lost a dollar from me when I needed a song for something. Went and illegally downloaded it because it wasn't on iTunes.

you suck also.

[Smithsc]

This is a good point. A lot people will do that and not really appreciate the whole album the way it was meant to be!

[ezza61]

k john we got the point

[jambajews]

shut up john you are the one that sucks

[allfooie]

i rekon they just want the more money haha

[fitzyp]

Cause listening to just one of their songs will spoil the conceptual beauty of the album? why would you want more than one or two when theyre all the same anyways?

[doudou101]

Yeah is real that all song sound the same! and for all those one who just want 1 or 2 songs..TORRENT IT!..ac/dc don't want the cd on itunes but that will not stop the download from torrent!

[FinderofNemo]

Good for them. Thats actually a really good sales theory, and it seems to work really well.

[playinbass1432]

So, all their songs sound the same. What does that have to do with this?

[bassdrum]

AC/DC can still rock it, hopefully. I might go and see them in November.

[Alexishxc1337]

Lotz222 wrote:

iTunes is for pop/rap garbage where there is only 1 or 2 good songs on a album. If a band like AC/DC comes out with a new album, you get the whole thing.

Blasphemy. There's tons of classics on itunes.

[chazzore]

People accuse of modern metal sounding the same but these guys are the originators. ac/dc are mediocre musicians and that is me being nice. A power chord with a simple lead riff under it does not impress me, this band is lucky that people even want some of their songs. They make more money off the shirts they sell in walmart than they know what to do with so this is just them being greedy.

Please go listen to a band like the human abstract or trumpets or oh, sleeper. These are bands that can truly accept the title of musicians and have albums that are worth buying the whole thing.

[TheSilverBeatle]

I don't know if this makes sense. "AC/DC claim their albums have sold better by not making them accessible to a larger market" ...that's basically the title, but when you put it like that it doesn't make sense does it.

And even more nonsense is that AC/DC believe there songs need to be heard as an album, I'm an AC/DC fan and I can admit every song they've made could be on any album.

[louwen]

props for that.
itunes is just another leech on the artists.

[tomsawyer67]

am i the only one who thinks angus looks like a dork at like 60 years old in the schoolboy outfit. then again hes making a hell of a lot more money than me, so props to ya, i guess. dork. no itunes is smart tho.

[poopdedoop]

AC/DC always sounds the same. Everything they do stays inside one boundary.

However, since that boundary happens to be kicking ass, they never seem to step doing it, and always deliver with "good, toe-tapping rock and roll", as Angus would say. And you know what, I respect every ****ing word Mr. Young said about iTunes. As an artist (albeit a repetitive artist), a true artist, why would you just want your hit song heard? You (hopefully) write and release songs because you love them, not because you want to make more money.

[blacksabbath8]

I agree with this totally.

But think of it this way, if this was Metallica people would continue to bash them for having pretty much the same idea. I don't get it, AC/DC has a similar problem as like Metallica with Napster and people worship AC/DC for this and Metallica is like #1 on the hate list for most poeple?

f*** all that commercial sh**, I buy albums. And I will continue to buy them.

[r0ckz0mb13]

funny how its ac/dc talking about this because
maybe its just me, but every single F***ing song has the same three chords and the same drumbeat. what angus beef and company are saying is that they want more motherF***ing money and thats all....they suck...and no i dont use itunes...i USE LIMEWIRE

[angusfan16]

dont really care. either way im headin to walmart and pickin up my copy.

[playinbass1432]

r0ckz0mb13 wrote:

funny how its ac/dc talking about this because
maybe its just me, but every single F***ing song has the same three chords and the same drumbeat. what angus beef and company are saying is that they want more motherF***ing money and thats all....they suck...and no i dont use itunes...i USE LIMEWIRE

It may all sound the same, but it's their work to distribute whichever way they want.

[cky_nick_cky]

fuc* itune*

[jakehendrixman]

RonMexico :
I have never and will never buy anything from this band. I hear all I need to from the radio. And all of their songs do sound the same.

Kind of a bummer bro. The radio only airs maybe a third of their songs at best. There are way more songs for you to hear if you think that's the case. But who cares. Seriously, if your going to buy a second album from an artist, what would you expect? A different genre of music. Artist work with the mediums that work best for them. Would Michelangelo have preferred to throw paint around like Jackson Pollock and called it art? Probably not and that's why he makes statues and all that such. For Ac/Dc A,E, and D chords are their tools of the trade and with that they craft very ingenious songs. It seems limited. Though, no one can tear out a solo like Angus.

Don't repost this for who's the best guitarist. And I know you will, you first grader. Music is an art. Oh by the way, Fuck iTunes. I think you should buy the cassette cause they are commin' back.

[ThePom]

All this is great assuming a band made an album to be itself an "album". I understand why bands like Tool don't put their album for download. They create their cds to be a musical whole. However, I am quite certain the vast majority of bands out there create songs to be singles. Why would you not?

This type of thinking of iTunes being evil is completely and utterly ridiculous in every fashion. It is so pretentious and stupid to think one should only buy an album to be a music fan. Are you kidding me if every song was that amazing on a CD MAYBE but grow up they aren't.

I love AC/DC but for them to say "we make albums not singles" you got to be kidding me have they not heard themselves? To deny iTunes or any other downloading platform has not done amazing things for the music industry is naive and ludicrous. Tell that to the THOUSANDS of small bands who have got exposure for them. If anything denying that is to not be a music fan. Not someone not buying an entire cd because they do not want to hear the crap songs on it.

[ThePom]

Restate my last sentence.. I meant to say someone not buying an entire CD because they do not want to hear the crap songs coming with it doesn't make them not a fan. Maybe thrifty..

[texzephyr]

go acdc... i agree with them... bands choose wat songs should be able to be released as singles for a reason...

[Josh Shiells]

Anybody else here remember CDs?
Or casettes? Or records?

Those were the days.

If anything is dying, it is the old-school
music stores with CDs and records. I miss those.

[rancidryan]

i managed to find 1 ac dc song on sale on itunes lol


but yeah i dont want albums to die

[ihavenoname93]

SoulMusiq77 wrote:

I think AC/DC just wants more money. I mean it just doesn't make sense. One, they would get a bigger fanbase because people have been BEGGING to get bands like AC/DC onto iTunes. Two, it's true that some people would just end up buying a song or two from the album instead of the whole thing but I don't think that matters. Real musicians don't care for the money. Some people just don't like AC/DC's albums as a whole. In a way it would be like ordering a value meal from Mc Donalds just to get the Big Mac and not eat the upsized drink and fries. It would be a waste of money. And three, AC/DC have enough money in their pockets why not just share their awesome music with people who may not be able to afford CD after CD. Hypothetically let's just say I only have about 5 spare dollars to spend on whatever I want at the end of the month after paying bills and whatnot. I go to Best Buy to search for AC/DC's Let There Be Rock album only to find that it's 10 dollars. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH so I have to wait until I get more money in account just so I can buy an album I only want for say 4 or 5 songs off of it. I'd be wasting the other say 5 dollars worth and to some people saving as much money as possible is mandatory.

Now don't get me wrong, I love all of AC/DC's albums. But this shit they have with iTunes IMHO is pretty gay. And the people who are saying "GOOD FOR THEM only modern pop/punk/hip-hop crap are on iTunes blah blah blah." Well there are plenty of classic rock bands on iTunes like CCR, Doobie Brothers, Pink Floyd, Scorpions, Rush, and actually most of the classic rock genre that have decided to not follow AC/DC's somewhat selfish and stupid acts agains iTunes.

yea but you gotta realize that money isnt what theyre worried about. they just want the orgasmic experience of buying an album, then just sticking with them for an hour of the music, which usually compliments the other songs on the album. itunes is just 'hey dog, i like these guys cuz they drop phat beats yo' *listens to single* 'that was gsngster fresh there, homie g'. theres no intellegence or art to it. itunes murders music and innocent puppies

[krumpinjugger]

tomsawyer67 wrote:

am i the only one who thinks angus looks like a dork at like 60 years old in the schoolboy outfit. then again hes making a hell of a lot more money than me, so props to ya, i guess. dork. no itunes is smart tho.

you, tom sawyer, are an ingnorant idiot...

[TheAmenCorner89]

chazzore wrote:

Well maybe if ac/dc was a halfway decent band people would buy their whole album. I mean every song on every album they have sounds exactly the same. You dont here about modern day metal and hardcore acts having this problem cause they dont write good songs, they write phenomenal albums.

For instance go check out suicide season by bring me the horizon.

1. ACDC are awesome, don't bash them for the fact they songs sound similar, that's their style and they always stood proud of who they are and not conformed with the trend of the times.
2. BMTH area terrible band, who steal riffs left right and centre from other bands, particularly those in the swedish melodeath scene

3. Good on ACDC for this, I much prefer to listen to an album as a whole, one or two songs on their own just doesn't convey the atmosphere of an entire album

[Toxtoth_O_Grady]

Go AC/DC, this is great to hear about

Lotz222 wrote:

iTunes is for pop/rap garbage where there is only 1 or 2 good songs on a album. If a band like AC/DC comes out with a new album, you get the whole thing.

You mean 1 or 2 HITS. There are no good songs on those pieces of ****.

[MutedZero]

I think ACDC are doing the right thing by not selling there music via iTunes. I have never and would never buy a song or album off iTunes.
I think that music from iTunes is bad quality.

I say just buy vinyl.

[palefire]

What they actually mean is "we're not putting our music on iTunes, because we know you'll all only download Back In Black, Highway to Hell, and You Shook Me All Night Long. Mainly because our albums tend to sound exactly the same."

I like a little AC/DC, but c'mon, they're hardly the most artistic band out there. They've made the same sounding music for years because they had a market for it, and a niche for themselves. Now its biting them in the ass. I think the title of the article sums up where their heart lies with this pretty well.

[rockerjesus]

AC/DC are one of historys all time greats of rock n roll up there with Led Zeppelin and Dire Straits
altho i use itunes (the media player) i have never used itunes(the store) but still i think its great AC/DC are still doing it old skool produceing albums instead of singles and just plain songs for this i comend them
i must admit i downloaded some of there songs thru limewire but this was olny due to low funds or the cd shop not haveing the album and as soon as the cd shop had said cds i went out and brought the whole album and as loners there songs are robbed of about half there power gained thu albums
and btw MOST nu metal bites hairy donkey dick (tho i dont mind some disturbed or korn or buck cherry)
andas for AC\DCs song sounding alike ffs go buy all the albums then say it the change from high voltage to stiff upper lip is MASSIVE they have changed alot over time ffs they do blues stuff they do rock n roll they do hard rock ect
that was my ramble and in the words of bob seger
todays music aint got the same soul i like that old time ROCK N ROLL
kthnxbye

[rockerjesus]

rockerjesus wrote:

AC/DC are one of historys all time greats of rock n roll up there with Led Zeppelin and Dire Straits
altho i use itunes (the media player) i have never used itunes(the store) but still i think its great AC/DC are still doing it old skool produceing albums instead of singles and just plain songs for this i comend them
i must admit i downloaded some of there songs thru limewire but this was olny due to low funds or the cd shop not haveing the album and as soon as the cd shop had said cds i went out and brought the whole album and as loners there songs are robbed of about half there power gained thu albums
and btw MOST nu metal bites hairy donkey dick (tho i dont mind some disturbed or korn or buck cherry)
andas for AC\DCs song sounding alike ffs go buy all the albums then say it the change from high voltage to stiff upper lip is MASSIVE they have changed alot over time ffs they do blues stuff they do rock n roll they do hard rock ect
that was my ramble and in the words of bob seger
todays music aint got the same soul i like that old time ROCK N ROLL
kthnxbye

EDIT: rap/pop/emo shit also eats dick kthnxbye again

[playinbass1432]

Now at least people can stop bitching about the whole Walmart thing...at least they sell the full album!

[--Holy--Diver--]

ANGUS is GOD.OBEY!

[goneshootin]

RonMexico wrote:

I have never and will never buy anything from this band. I hear all I need to from the radio. And all of their songs do sound the same.

LOL lamest thing i've ever read in my life

[goneshootin]

palefire wrote:

What they actually mean is "we're not putting our music on iTunes, because we know you'll all only download Back In Black, Highway to Hell, and You Shook Me All Night Long. Mainly because our albums tend to sound exactly the same."

I like a little AC/DC, but c'mon, they're hardly the most artistic band out there. They've made the same sounding music for years because they had a market for it, and a niche for themselves. Now its biting them in the ass. I think the title of the article sums up where their heart lies with this pretty well.

if u knew the band any better, maby u'd realize they release alot of the "same sound" because thats what they love doing and thats what they do best ...besides they do release a good variety.. does thunderstruck sound ANYTHING like the jack ..i mean cmon

[rocka120]

Mikeyw1233 wrote:

Yeah! I hate buying singles, I hate having half-albums

lol yeah it pisses me off when people only buy a few songs off itunes and then say stuff like "this album is awesome"