Jay-Z To Fans: Please Steal My Music

Silicon Valley Insider:

iTunes buyers who want to purchase Jay-Z's newest album, the soundtrack to the American Gangster movie, are out of luck. That's because the rapper insists that fans buy the entire album, not individual tracks, and Apple's (AAPL) online store won't allow that.

Jay-Z's not the first artist to stay off of iTunes because of an album vs. tracks dispute (other notable holdouts include Radiohead). But is the first time he's had a problem with it: You can buy much of his earlier music, track by track, on iTunes today. What gives?

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Comments

[realitytrumpsbull]

Well, I would, except I don't listen to rap
music. It's kind of the disco of the 21st century...­been done too many times. It's a
worn-out format, like a lot of other formats,
I've gone back to the 80's to find some more
upbeat stuff, a little wave, a little rock
before it became primal scream screaming,
that kind of stuff, and I like some of the
indie bands because someone found a guitar
and remembered how to play, there, and
back to some of the original R&B, too,
stuff like Aretha Franklin, the Spinners,
Stevie Wonder, Isaac Hayes, some good funk,
even some ACTUAL disco, here and there.
But the rap of today, eminem etc? No thanks.

[marko77]

sendtretter

anyone who understands adolescent macho posturing understands hiphop and rap. And, to say you've got to listen to the 1/10th of 1% that does not embody this is misleading.

[zull2]

The whole "pay as much as you want for it" thing was actually invented by indie bands several years ago (I recall a good college friend selling his album this way back in 2000, for example) as a way to promote their albums and not starve. It's funny that it's finally now being adopted by the guys on top of the food chain in the record industry now...but I can imagine that it's not too bad to cut Apple out as the middle man if you can afford to. All Apple really does is provide a service, if you don't need it, then there's no reason to use it.

[WARisEVIL]

I steal a lot of music online but I wouldn't be caught dead downloading any of this hiphop crap rap done by a bunch of spearchucking junglebunnies.

Although I do have all of Motown stuff LOL.

[sheila]

pretentious much? hey, J - how about suggesting that people buy the entire thing because it's a concept album, explaining to them the benefits of doing it that way, but then letting them do whatever the hell they want as long as they dole out the cheese?

i didn't notice you refusing to service singles to radio and insisting that they play the entire album. heck, your own damn website plays singles, not the album. WTF?

he's not just hurting himself or his stupid label - lots of other people will lose money because of his BS, like songwriters, producers, guest artists, etc.

totally self-absorbed and l-a-m-e.

[OhPlease2007]

Jay-Z, the 'NVT' icon of hip-hop culture. NVT, ... you know, as in, "No Visible Talent."

I'm sure the BEATLES were 'overjoyed' when Jay-Z stole THEIR music.

Why is this guy still relevant? Oh, yeah, I almost forgot, we live in a Paris Hilton pop- culture! LOL

[Ginzaman]

First he's with Beyonce. Now he thinks he controls the whole damn world.

[StuCop]

ummm...the headline is misleading­...the article has nothing to do with stealing music...bu­t rather purchasing a whole album instead of individual tracks...

the headline should be

Jay-Z To Fans: Buy My Whole Damn Album

what gives?