Apple 9-9-'09 Event invitation
“It’s only Rock ‘n Roll, but we like it” was written on Apple’s latest invitation to the press. Another event in which Apple would likely make announcements regarding its iPod line and the iTunes Store. Interestingly, this event coincided with the official release of the entire remastered oeuvre of the Fab Four. Even though many anticipated its long awaited arrival in the iTunes Store, the tag line printed on the event invitations Apple sent out should have been a tell-tale sign that this would not be the case.
And so the event passed. No ‘one more thing’, no Sir Paul McCartney joining Steve Jobs on stage. Even at the time of this writing, there is not a single Beatles song to be found in the iTunes Store. What the fuck is wrong with those people at EMI!? Mr. McCartney wants to see the Beatles in the iTunes Store, so does Mrs. Ono; why hasn’t it happened then!? This whole thing has turned into one big joke! Over and over people expected the Fab Four to make their appearance in the iTunes store. The air has long been cleared between Apple Inc. and Apple Corps. Why the hell can’t we buy the remastered versions of Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band or The White Album as a digital download!? I love music. I absolutely do. And I’m talking about music. That excludes 95% of the bullshit the major record companies plug into the pop charts. And I’m willing to pay for my music. In fact, I’ve been doing so ever since I had the financial means to. When the iTunes Store made it’s rise to fame, I switched from those shiny discs to digital formats. The Apple format in particular. I immediately upgraded my iTunes library after Apple announced it would drop DRM and increase the quality of its AAC tracks to 256Kbps. And I’m willing to whip out another 30 euros of my hard-earned cash to purchase my favourite three Beatles albums. Hell, I’ll even go as far as 36 euros! But give me the frickin’ opportunity to do so!!! Damnit, they made the switch from vinyl to compact discs in no time, why the hell does this have to take so long?
I’m afraid I’ll never understand the ways of the mighty record industry. All I know is we’d be better off if a few of the big guys tipped over. More and more good music starts coming off independent labels, now they have the means to get their artists into the public’s eye. I sure hope it’s going to be the end of the line for the gravy train.