US music star Kid Rock is refusing to put his songs on iTunes because he
says artists do not get paid enough for downloads from the Apple store.
Kid Rock is one of the last few acts still not signed up to the service.
He said it was based on "an old system, where iTunes takes the money,
the record company takes the money, and they don't give it to the
artists".
His latest album Rock 'n' Roll Jesus went to number one in the US last
year, despite being absent from iTunes.
The Beatles, Garth Brooks and AC/DC are the only other major stars who
have still not made their music available on iTunes.
"Back in the day, we all know the stories of the Otis Reddings and Chuck
Berrys and Fats Dominos who never got paid," Kid Rock told the BBC News
website.
"So the internet was an opportunity for everyone to be treated fairly,
for the consumer to get a fair price, for the artist to be paid fairly,
for the record companies to make some money."
But they stuck to the "old system", he said.
"I will be on iTunes eventually because I can't avoid it but I like to
always stick to my guns and prove a point and do something original and
because I believe in it."
The star said his record company Atlantic asked him to "stand up for
illegal downloading" a few years ago because they told him "people are
stealing from us and stealing from you".
"And I go, wait a second, you've been stealing from the artists for
years. Now you want me to stand up for you?
"I was telling kids [to] download it illegally, I don't care. I want you
to hear my music so I can play live."
Kid Rock said he was losing 10-20% of sales by not being on iTunes, but
added: "I've just sold a million records, I'm not really feeling that
blow."
Asked whether he was worried about illegal downloading, he replied: "I
think we should level the playing field. I don't mind people stealing my
music, that's fine. But I think they should steal everything.
"You know how much money the oil companies have? If you need some gas,
just go fill your tank off and drive off, they're not going to miss it."
But he said he did not implement that advice himself. "No, I don't steal
things. I'm rich."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7459796.stm
Comments