Kid Rock Claims iTunes Cheats Musicians

Alongside the Beatles and AC/DC, Kid Rock is still one of the few major stars who has yet to allow his music catalog to be available through iTunes. So why the hold out? The man born Bob Ritchie claims artists just don't get paid enough for aligning with the Apple-owned digital store.

Rock claims iTunes is based on the same old system that cheated music legends out of their cut. Speaking to BBC News this week, the self-professed "American Badass" said, "iTunes takes the money, the record company takes the money, and they don't give it to the artists." Despite his unwillingness to acquiesce to the popular service, Rock still pulled down a number one debut last fall when he released his latest disc 'Rock 'n' Roll Jesus' through traditional means.

"Back in the day, we all know the stories of the Otis Reddings and Chuck Berrys and Fats Dominos who never got paid," the Detroit-area artist added. "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."

"I will be on iTunes eventually because I can't avoid it," he conceded, "but I like to always stick to my guns and prove a point and do something original and because I believe in it."