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Pete Townshend Calls Apple 'Digital Vampires' Over iTunes' Commissions

Gareth Cattermole/WireImage

Who guitarist and windmill expert Pete Townshend has spoken out against the changes Apple and iTunes have wrought on the digital music industry, claiming they "bleed" today's artists like "digital vampires" in BBC 6 Music's inaugural John Peel Lecture. Townshend insisted that Apple should instead be helping new bands.

"Is there really any good reason why, just because iTunes exists in the wild west internet land of Facebook and Twitter, it can't provide some aspect of these services to the artists whose work it bleeds like a digital vampire, like a digital Northern Rock, for its enormous commission?"

He went on to say that Apple is "destroying copyright as we know it," and that music consumers who download music illegally "may as well come and steal my son's bike while they're at it ... I wonder what has gone wrong with human morality and social justice."

While Apple has drastically changed the musical landscape, it has not all been for the worse. Because of iTunes, many smaller bands are enjoying exposure they wouldn't have otherwise received. Townshend acknowledged this, admitting, "I've done all right ... A creative person would prefer their music to be stolen and enjoyed than ignored. This is the dilemma for every creative soul -- he or she would prefer to starve and be heard than to eat well and be ignored."

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knkingking

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November 01 2011 at 9:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
StropharioJr

"Because of iTunes, many smaller bands are enjoying exposure they wouldn't have otherwise received."

This is not entirely true.

Prior to iTunes, small bands received lots of exposure in a number of ways that iTunes and internet sharing has largely killed off. For example, record labels often promoted bands in the USA and abroad, quite heavily, and supported tours, giving away huge amounts of tapes and vinyl. Radio play, record store events, free concerts, opening for established acts, were all part of the process. The indie scene was very vibrant and connected. Small bands had fans all over the world. It was not as automatic as iTunes, that's all. And, the royalty rate is not better.

Saying that iTunes provides exposure where none existed prior is disingenuous at best, since iTunes is very much responsible for helping to destroy the many ways that bands were able to reach out to new fans in the first place! As Townshend notes...

November 01 2011 at 3:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply