iTMS MIAs
I've been taking note of artists whose works are mostly or completely missing on the iTunes Music Store, either because I've looked for them myself, or have seen references to their absence on the Web. This is what I've come up with so far:
- The Beatles
- Blondie
- The Clash
- Elvis Costello
- Dave Matthews Band
- Fine Young Cannibals
- General Public
- John Lennon
- Paul McCartney
- Metallica
- Radiohead
- Kid Rock
- Steve Miller Band
- Pete Townshend
- XTC
By the way, I'm relatively clueless when it comes to how music rights are licensed, and I've long since lost track of who owns what when it comes to the Beatles' music. Is its absence from iTMS related to the Apple Computer-Apple Corps dispute?
Comments
Bananarama
Led Zeppelin
World Party
Urge Overkill
The lack of Radiohead disturbs me the most, but I take slight comfort in the selection of Flaming Lips offered.
Posted by: belle | May 20, 2004 07:58 PM
Beatles won't be on iTMS for a while. Apple Corps owns the Beatles catalog and is currently suing Apple Computer for using "Apple" in the music business.
Paul McCartney has also implied or stated that he has no interest in having the Beatles music digitally online. See:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3190052.stm
Posted by: James | May 21, 2004 10:22 AM
I would like to take back the Paul McCartney comment. It is not in the article I linked, so my apologies to Mr.McCartney.
Posted by: James | May 21, 2004 10:24 AM
Radiohead has publicly stated that they're not interested in making their music available for download as singles--album only. Questions remain as to how much control the artists have over methods of distribution. While I would like to see Radiohead's music available through iTMS, I completely respect their right to distribute as they see fit. Most artists in the talent-free world of Top 40 radio lack the credibility to do so, but Radiohead has earned the right.
Metallica is just filled with self-righteous, money-grubbing retards with the RIAA's hand up their butts. Keep their taint off of iTMS, in my opinion.
Finally, I think Michael Jackson still owns the Beatles catalog after a nasty and public brouhaha between him and Paul McCartney years ago. Not sure how that plays into the lack of Beatles music on iTunes, but there it is.
--devin
Posted by: Devin | May 21, 2004 01:20 PM
There are a few artists on your list that have albums on iTMS:
The Clash:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtistTopSongs?artistId=522000
Blondie:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/com.apple.jingle.search.DirectAction/search?term=Blondie
Elvis Costello:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/com.apple.jingle.search.DirectAction/search?term=Elvis%20Costello
Kid Rock:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtistTopSongs?artistId=252399
Steve Miller Band:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtistTopSongs?artistId=488933
Adding to the list of MIA's:
AC/DC
Hopefully Apple can work out a way to get their albums available online, even if they offer it album only; I don't think I'd mind that...
-d
Posted by: Danny | May 22, 2004 11:20 AM
I believe that what I wrote was "mostly or completely missing" (emphasis mine). Yes, those artists have albums on iTMS. But much or most of their work is missing, at least as far as I could tell.
Posted by: Frank Boosman | May 22, 2004 11:48 AM
Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Totally missing unless you consider ASIA.
ELP got a little exposure the other night on the "Friends" TV show finale. "...welcome back my friends to the show that never ends...."
I'm surprised in their absence on iTMS.
Posted by: David | May 22, 2004 06:27 PM