The Black Keys Tell Why They Keep Their Music Off Spotify, Other Services [VIDEO]
UPDATED: Watch The Black Keys discuss why they have kept most of their music including their new release "El Camino" off of Spotify, Pandora and all other streaming music services. The pair also suggests why other indie band may not want to follow their lead.
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Now I understand why I can’t still listen to their album… nor buy it as I want now to fully listen to album before buying them (bought the previous one, went to their concerts…)
It’s pretty clear that they are doing this to make more money, not to be fair. But whatever, that’s the black keys MO and they’ve been doing this their whole careers, nothing wrong with that. They aren’t trying to be game changing artists, they are just pumping out simple, fun blues rock albums every year.
Pat’s comments about Pandora are absurd btw…
It’s ridiculously hard to explain this to fans without sounding greedy. There is a certain amount of fan entitlement for music subscribers to expect everything under the sun, myself included. Black Keys are putting that entitlement in check by turning the other way, and making a statement about the value of free-flowing art in the process. It takes a little sacrifice to acknowledge and appreciate the value of an artists work, at the risk of over-valuing and piracy.
also, major labels have equity stake in some of these streaming services, so even if their artists aren’t doing well, but the service in general IS from indie/DIY music, they’re still golden. Another great reason for Black Keys to take a stand.
And it’s hard to explain this strategy without sounding greedy when managed by Q-Prime, Metallica’s management company. You may recall Metallica’s eloquent stance against Napster.
If its not available on a subscription service that I am paying for, then the album doesn’t exist to me. I hope it fails.
It amazes me that people expect musicians to work for years to develop their craft and then just give it away ….. in any other profession this is unheard of. If you want the musicians you like to be able to eat, pay bills, and have a secure future then support what they do and don’t complain that you can’t get it for free.
you shouldn’t be shocked by something like this. this is the art world. it’s not a regular profession. the artists are expected to create this work for the purpose of spreading to other, not for monetary compensation. that being said, i’m not hating on the black keys here at all.
but to add on to my statement above, i don’t care how they release it, they can do whatever, but if the album isn’t on Rdio, like lame said, “the album doesn’t exist to me”
Should subscription services ever become synonymous with empty un-inspired music, I think the stance “the album doesn’t exist to me” says a lot about the music fan. Therefore, I doubt you really mean what you say, because I’m sure you have good reason for selecting the music you listen to… not to say that’s the case right now… nor to say that I’m necessarily a black keys fan.
then again, if there album was on Rdio, maybe I would be. HA!
So they should make their music free to help earn money for a tech company who more then likely doesn’t even care about the music? That’s Art???
New album is crushing.
It’s about time an artist stands up to corporate bullshit like streaming.
Hope Black Keys sell a lot. Very genuine band.
Black Keys sales are in: 202k first week.
Holy fuck!
Remember Major vs Indie?
now it’s
Free vs absolutelyeverythingelse
Spotify is the Open Bar/Happy Hour of the music industry.
Very rarely will you see top shelf brands available during and Open Bar or Happy Hour.
Then again, the idea of these devices is to get patrons drunk enough so they stay till it’s time constraints are over and keep them drinking at the same location, but paying….
Totally agree with lame…
the norm for a consumer will be to sign up for ONE music service – if its not on that service, it does not exist to that consumer.
Potential lost sales and future sales
First off Erik Peterson – Putting music on Rdio does not make it “free”
Second – I’m sure the people at Rdio like music just as much as the people at iTunes (a tech company!!), or at your CD packing plant, so that argument is irrelevant.
Third – as stated in both of my previous posts on this, I really don’t care how the black keys release their music. I have no problem with musicians making money, they can make all the money they want, there is nothing wrong with people trying to get paid. I’m glad dan and pat have tons of dough (i personally have seen them twice, bought a couple t shirts, and bought a couple of albums, so I’ve done plenty of supporting). But these days, I spend $10 a month for a subscription service that I’m more than happy with, and that is all I want to pay for music (not necessarily the “right” choice, but it’s my choice).
So if I have the choice between paying $10 MORE to listen to album, i’ll pass, and i’ll see ’em tear it up next time they play in my city.
You’re right tomauce – to say non Rdio music doesn’t exist to me is an overstatement, but you get the idea…
i bought one album outside of rdio this year (king of limbs), and if there is another album i’m excited about that much, i’ll probably buy it too, but to spend an extra $10 on the black keys’s 20th album in 4 years? i’ll pass
First off, Chris J…I don’t care what you do, but claiming that it’s just art & they shouldn’t expect anything for all their hard work is ludicrous. None of these tech companies where you get your free or cheap music would be in existence if it wasn’t for the musicians. When you work for free or next to nothing & live in squalor for 10 yrs or so, come back & talk to us about how much more work you’re willing do for nothing. Then again, I may already be preaching to the choir since you’re complaint is over $10.
BROOOO you’re killing me. how many times do i have to repeat that i don’t have a problem with them releasing their music however they want!! i just brought up in my last post all the support i’ve given them with purchases over the years. just because i consume music differently than you, doesn’t make me wrong, or someone who expects all music to be free!! i don’t have any complaints, are you even reading my posts?? i’m just not going to buy this album.
Rdio costs me $120/year, and that’s my budget for the year for recorded music. it’s just a choice man, not a complaint.
apologies to anyone reading this stupid argument…
I don’t sign up for subscription services but, wow, $120 a year is actually a reasonably sizeable investment in music (say, an entire album every month, give or take). As a creator of music I wish everybody else could do that! Maybe I’d be in with a chance to be able to give up the day job and just focus on the music making. It all boils down to choice at the end of the day I guess; I fall down on the Black Keys side, completely, but can equally well appreciate some consumers’ being put out and put off. Still, interesting how some ‘consumers’ expect to get music for nothing, but, are prepared to line the pockets of corporations that sell artery hardening fast food; tooth rotting coffee; liver pulverising gnat’s pee beer; corrupt pension funds and yada yada. Music – for many – features so low on their list of life enhancing experiences, it’s frightening when compared to the above list of alternative ‘preferred’ options! You’re obviously a true fan of music and are prepared to actually budget for it, which as a struggling ‘artist’, is heart warming in the extreme. As you say, it is entirely to do with choice. Be interesting to know how much of your investment does kick back to the artists you like though. Spotify pay $0.001 to $0.017 a time to artists – not a lot!