This is the message I sent to www.metallica.com. I resume nicely of what I think of that band now:
::Begin First of all, to make fan pay to access your is in my opinion very low. Metallica already got the money, don't tell me they can't afford metallica.com ! I just think of other metal bands such as Emperor, Dimmu Borgir and even Iron Maiden don't make their fans pay for a couple of pictures. They have far less money than Metallica (especially Emperor and Dimmu Borgir), what does that tell you ? They know the value of such strategy, it sells. So please, tell the truth to the fans and say you charge them 'cause you're greedy.
Second of all, that needless lawsuit. In case you wonder how black - death metal bands are able to survive in this silicon-saturated and ganster-wannabes industry, it's because of MP3s. Being VERY unmainstream, these bands rely heavily on MP3 trading to get their art to the fans. The very fact that this kind of music isn't mainstream cause the prices of black metal album to be insanely high, especialy here in north-america since we can only get them by imports.
Something funny about real fans, they ALWAYS buy their albums, but often they do so after listening it on badly recorded tapes. Today, the quality of MP3 is better, this is very true, but it lacks the real thing, the lyrics, the photos, even the f'cking thank you list. It's part of the whole, it's the thing that fans of metal, ususaly not very rich by definition has bleed to buy since the beginning of metal. Metallica probably wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for the tape trading of the 80's. In the 90's, many bands rely on this technology to reach new fan base.
Fans will always buy original recordings but they won't do so blindly. It's not easy for someone with 20 buck to spare a week to buy a 19.99 $ CD, and that's when the CD IS 19.99$. As I said, it is not rare for me to pay between 30 and 40$ (CAN but still...) to buy a f'king CD, but I do it anyway, because the band's worth it and the album excite my senses. I suggest you go read a good piece about the necessity of MP3 in certain circle at http://www.burzum.com/flash/news2.htm#moonfog
In final words, you guys should have remained true to your original sayings back in the 80's, (the not selling-out thing), millions of kids were inspired by that and are now feeling let down. It wouldn't be so bad if Metallica changed its name.
But hey, if Metallica wants to be mainstream a la Britney Spears and wear the latest Clairol eyeliner, who am I to argue ?
I'm just the guy who bought their f'cking albums ::End
Slashdot Mirror
This is the message I sent to www.metallica.com. I resume nicely of what I think of that band now :
First of all, to make fan pay to access your is in my opinion very low. Metallica already got the money, don't tell me they can't afford metallica.com ! I just think of other metal bands such as Emperor, Dimmu Borgir and even Iron Maiden don't make their fans pay for a couple of pictures. They have far less money than Metallica (especially Emperor and Dimmu Borgir), what does that tell you ? They know the value of such strategy, it sells. So please, tell the truth to the fans and say you charge them 'cause you're greedy.
Second of all, that needless lawsuit. In case you wonder how black - death metal bands are able to survive in this silicon-saturated and ganster-wannabes industry, it's because of MP3s. Being VERY unmainstream, these bands rely heavily on MP3 trading to get their art to the fans. The very fact that this kind of music isn't mainstream cause the prices of black metal album to be insanely high, especialy here in north-america since we can only get them by imports.
Something funny about real fans, they ALWAYS buy their albums, but often they do so after listening it on badly recorded tapes. Today, the quality of MP3 is better, this is very true, but it lacks the real thing, the lyrics, the photos, even the f'cking thank you list. It's part of the whole, it's the thing that fans of metal, ususaly not very rich by definition has bleed to buy since the beginning of metal. Metallica probably wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for the tape trading of the 80's. In the 90's, many bands rely on this technology to reach new fan base.
Fans will always buy original recordings but they won't do so blindly. It's not easy for someone with 20 buck to spare a week to buy a 19.99 $ CD, and that's when the CD IS 19.99$. As I said, it is not rare for me to pay between 30 and 40$ (CAN but still...) to buy a f'king CD, but I do it anyway, because the band's worth it and the album excite my senses. I suggest you go read a good piece about the necessity of MP3 in certain circle at http://www.burzum.com/flash/news2.htm#moonfog
In final words, you guys should have remained true to your original sayings back in the 80's, (the not selling-out thing), millions of kids were inspired by that and are now feeling let down. It wouldn't be so bad if Metallica changed its name.But hey, if Metallica wants to be mainstream a la Britney Spears and wear the latest Clairol eyeliner, who am I to argue ?
I'm just the guy who bought their f'cking albums