“It’s not ok for these fucking idiots to decide art has no value”.
Recently, we learned of Apple’s decision to not pay royalties to artists during their 3 month free trial of the new streaming service Apple Music. Now Anton Newcombe, frontman of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, recently shared some distressing details about his experience resisting that policy.
On Twitter today, Newcombe said after being contacted about the non-royalty policy he asked what would happen if he declined and according to him, Apple threatened to remove all of his band’s music from iTunes. Newcombe put out several furious tweets, calling Apple “a satanic corporation”.
Newcombe is not the first artist to be critical of Apple. Today Beggars Group, the company behind many popular labels including 4AD, XL, Matador and Rough Trade, released a statement expressing their fears about the effect it could have on artists and independent labels.
Yesterday, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon spoke very critically about the company and shared our own article on why Apple Music is “proof that the company has stopped innovating”. Read Newcombe’s comments below. [via Crack Magazine]
So @APPLEOFFIClAL has a new deal they offered me: they said we want to stream your music free for 3 months..I said what if I say no,and they
— antonnewcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015
(@APPLEOFFIClAL ) said "we'll take your music off itunes. hard ball? fuck these satanic corporations
— antonnewcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015
Fucking @iTunes
— antonnewcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015
It actually doesn't matter if that account was click bait because the fact remains that a corporation is basically making threats
— antonnewcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015
The biggest company on earth wants to use my work to make money for 3 months and pay me nothing – of I say no,I'm banned
— antonnewcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015
Wow,at least apple pays Chinese workers one dollar a day to make iPhones etc
— antonnewcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015
My guess is that they will come out of the gate with shit streaming for free or low cost then blow everyone away with higher quality streams
— antonnewcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015
Devils – they shouldn't threaten people to work for free.its not ok for these fucking idiots to decide art has no value
— antonnewcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015
I hope the poor decide that law has no value and burn the Bay Area to the fucking ground starting in Cupertino
— antonnewcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015
After looting all the techies McMansions
— antonnewcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015
Give San Francisco back to the Gays and the Indians
— antonnewcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015
