Metallica haven’t always been the greatest fans of Apple’s music, criticizing iTunes’ track-based sales model as “contributing to the demise of the album format” and only allowing the band’s music to be sold on the service in 2006 – some three years after its launch. iTunes sales outside the U.S. didn’t happen until 2008.
But while Taylor Swift, Anton Newcombe and others have been attacking Apple Music (something which may or may not now be resolved), Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has been singing the praises of the new service, reports the NY Post.
Speaking at Cannes Lions, drummer Ulrich said he and his Metallica bandmates were excited about the launch of Apple Music’s streaming service. “I think that Apple is just about the coolest company in the world. I am a huge supporter of Apple and all their products, and I have been fortunate enough to meet most of the people there, a lot of the people who make key decisions, and I feel very safe with them,” Ulrich said.
Ulrich said that the band had good relationships with the Apple team, including Tim Cook and Jimmy Iovine …
He said it was “very exciting” to see where Apple was heading, and that Metallica is going to be fully involved. Quite a change in tone – but then we guess it has been a decade.
Ulrich also said that Metallica has a great relationship with Spotify, but was somewhat dismissive of Tidal.
Tidal, I don’t know that much about it, we weren’t really approached. For Metallica it is primarily about Spotify and Apple Music.
Following Apple’s U-turn on royalty payments during the three-month free trial of Apple Music, the company is expected to pay some level of royalties during the free period, then pay a little more than the industry-standard 70% once paid subscriptions begin. The free trial begins a week from today on June 30th.
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Metallica, you rock.
Not surprising though – IIRC they’re financially struggling so it makes little sense trying to ‘rage against the machine’ that cuts off revenue streams. Something Taylor Swift need to realise – the future is your live shows will be where you make your money and the music available online are a means of marketing. If you want to hold onto the past then you really bring failure upon yourself via your refusal to adapt.
Well no, Taylor Swift was correct and your wrong. I’m not sure what Apple was thinking as its been a company that usually takes the moral highroad. why would be ok to work without pay for 3 months giving away product that took a lot of time and money to produce?
On top of that the model of how artist are paid in this respect is severely outdated and broken. Its not a refusal to adapt it failure of the copyright system that needs to be rewritten to address todays media distribution and delivery systems.
What does the copyright system have to do with royalties?
Simple,
You own the copyright, you are owed royalties.
That is why Taylor Swift can remove her songs from any service.
Which doesn’t address a single point that I said, did I talk about the three month trial period? no. Did I claim that Taylor Swift shouldn’t be paid during the three month trial period? no. Did I state that artists shouldn’t get paid? no. Next time, if you’re going to critique what someone posts how about actually critiquing what they write rather than assuming there is some secret underlying message that you’ve some how uncovered through some extensive gnosticism conducted to the text.
Say what you will about the whole U2 free album fiasco, the album itself ended up selling a lot more than their previous album. Artists like U2 and Metallica understand the way it works. Taylor Swift, even though she won her tantrum, does not.
don’t use the word “selling” so loosely. subtract the number of users who got the album for free and then look at the numbers….
you are very far off in your statement
For a few, being right is less important than creating an opportunity to take a shot at someone.
Aside from their brief mainstream acceptance with their self titled album and mainstream hits like “Enter Sandman” are they really that big? I know I never really cared about them and I grew up in the Bay Area where they are from.
Wow. You must not be very well versed in the hard rock genre.
You should check out their entire catalog. Probably should begin with the black album, Load/Reload, S&M since they’d be more easily digestible
You don’t sell 110 million records and get voted for being the most influential rock band in the last 30 years with one hit single “Enter Sandman” or having “brief mainstream acceptance”
http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-is-most-influential-rock-band-of-last-30-years/
Check out their cover of a Thin Lizzy song “Whiskey in the Jar”. One of my favs.
Can someone explain to me how buying individual songs (which the artists get paid for) is destroying the album format while at the same time things like FM radio and Sirius radio pay royalties for each song played? How is that different than buying individual songs when artists still get paid for both methods?
sure. two major points. one being financial and the other artistic. A single sound on iTunes .99 or so vs vs having to purchase the full album at $10.99 or so… back in the day those sales numbers to get to “gold” would of been a decent take at + $1m. Today because of the a la carte sales model you could have “Platinum” numbers and still not be making what “Gold” is suppose to earn you. With stream services its far worse! The difference with FM is there level of promotion when you have a good song that is not there with streaming. in addition the artist are still getting paid via ASCAP. XM Radio is the same but minus DJ’s and less commercials.
From a artistic stand point a la carte purchases destroy traditional story telling. how the songs used to flow together, track layout etc. many think this is how songs should be listened to and they have a point.
Totally getting tired of the fact our culture want everything at unsustainable cost. it cost a good amount of money to create a song / album from pre-production – production – post-production and delivery still! lets pay artist what they should be getting paid!
Performers and copyright holders don’t get royalties for terrestrial (FM) radio. Fun fact.
Fun Fact Number 2:
As there is a whole world outside of the US in which performers and copyright holders do get royalties, Fun Fact number 1 isn’t actually a fact.
Kenny that is totally not true. Take a look at ASCAP’s website and you will find your self quickly corrected.