In a victory for the concept album, Britain's High Court on Thursday ordered record company EMI Group Ltd. to stop selling downloads of Pink Floyd tracks individually rather than as part of the band's original records.
The prog-rock group sued the music label, saying its contract prohibited selling the tracks “unbundled” from their original album setting.
Pink Floyd lawyer Robert Howe said the band was known for producing “seamless” pieces of music on albums like “Dark Side of the Moon,” “The Division Bell” and “The Wall,” and wanted to retain artistic control.
EMI claimed the clause in the band's contract — negotiated a decade ago, before the advent of iTunes and other online retailers — applied only to physical albums, not Internet sales.
I can understand the problem PF had with the sales of single tracks. On the other hand - I can't imagine anyone saying "Fuck The Wall, I only want Waiting For The Worms!". Still, great they still hold their back catalogue in high regard and not throw it away like a certain doctor and his fat sidekick do these days. You won't see a Pink Floyd Absolute Greatest.
It's a bit crap though. Actually it's very crap. If anyone wants to swap something for my copy get in touch.
Pim Derks · Member since
Echoes is the only Pink Floyd compilation (besides the mini LP from 1981 with 5 or 6 hits). And it has been tastefully packaged, sequenced, edited etc. It's not a rehash of 10 other compilations which have sold millions of copies already.
inu-liger · Member since
They're also speculating in the same articles that Pink Floyd, Queen and Macca are seeking to leave EMI due to it's recent troubles (though I thought Macca already left EMI??).
Queen leaving EMI isn't a surprise so much - the mods at QOL were openly speculating based on internal source rumours that that would be happening, and "Absolute Greatest" + Singles Collection were quota fillers towards fulfilling their contract with EMI (which makes sense, cos I'm sure they want to wait until they leave EMI and either join another label or go independent to unleash the [b]real[/b] goodies such as the anthologies - hopefully with more quality control and such. Think about it!)
GratefulFan · Member since
Very corporate vulture like of EMI to try to dodge the spirt of the agreement like that. They deserved a big judicial fail.
With Floyd you're never quite sure if it's about artistic control or just plain control, particularly with Waters. There are multiple tracks that stand beautifully on their own and not everybody is interested in contemplating an album as an [i]album[/i] quite as deeply as Floyd might wish.
The Real Wizard · Member since
[QUOTE]
[b]GratefulFan wrote: [/b]
With Floyd you're never quite sure if it's about artistic control or just plain control, particularly with Waters. There are multiple tracks that stand beautifully on their own and not everybody is interested in contemplating an album as an [i]album[/i] quite as deeply as Floyd might wish.
[/QUOTE]
You're right. But I completely agree with the notion that the artist should choose how their music is released.
Back in the 70s when these albums came out, vinyl was the only medium they existed on for purchase. The only way you'd hear a single track was either on a 45 or on the radio. Pink Floyd clearly feels they should have similar control today. It's their art, so it should be their choice. An incomplete Pink Floyd album is like the Mona Lisa without the nose.
mooghead · Member since
So you dont have a favourite PF track? The only way you can enjoy them is by listening to the whole album? Bollocks.
Pure greed. Buy it all or buy nothing.
They will lose money in the end (which is what its all about, lets be honest)
Major Tom · Member since
I sat down with a beer the other day and listened to DSOTM. What a masterpiece. I´d give my right arm to see them "reunite". Come on David and Roger, get back together!
The Real Wizard · Member since
[QUOTE]
[b]mooghead wrote: [/b]
So you dont have a favourite PF track? The only way you can enjoy them is by listening to the whole album? Bollocks.
[/QUOTE]
Nope. I have favourite albums.. Atom Heart Mother, Meddle, Animals, and The Wall.
GratefulFan · Member since
Pink Floyd have sufficent clout to have negotiated the right to control how their work is packaged and sold in a world that has come to expect digital downloading of single tracks as the norm. That right flows from a lifetime of work and success, so good for them, I guess. It's worth noting that they certainly embraced singles early in their career, until they consistenly tanked, and that much later in an about face Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 was released as a single when it became clear it would hit big. As mooghead has noted, it's not going to be wholly about artistic integrity. And even the part that is is a little patronizing and smacks of the paternalistic contempt for the fans that has too often infected the otherwise brilliant Pink Floyd.
john bodega · Member since
Bittorrrrrrrrrent.
its_a_hard_life 26994 · Member since
[QUOTE]
[b]Major Tom wrote: [/b]
I sat down with a beer the other day and listened to DSOTM. What a masterpiece. I´d give my right arm to see them "reunite". Come on David and Roger, get back together![/QUOTE]
Winter Land Man · Member since
[QUOTE]
[b]GratefulFan wrote: [/b]
In a victory for the concept album, Britain's High Court on Thursday ordered record company EMI Group Ltd. to stop selling downloads of Pink Floyd tracks individually rather than as part of the band's original records.
The prog-rock group sued the music label, saying its contract prohibited selling the tracks “unbundled” from their original album setting.
Pink Floyd lawyer Robert Howe said the band was known for producing “seamless” pieces of music on albums like “Dark Side of the Moon,” “The Division Bell” and “The Wall,” and wanted to retain artistic control.
EMI claimed the clause in the band's contract — negotiated a decade ago, before the advent of iTunes and other online retailers — applied only to physical albums, not Internet sales.
[url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/pink-floyd-wins-battle-with-emi-over-online-sales/article1497457/]More...[/url][/QUOTE]
I really like that idea. That's a problem with the buying of single tracks when they are form concept albums.
Sadly, even though Pink Floyd has won their battle, there's a lot of other bands who probably wouldn't try something like this, as they'd lose a Hell of a lot of money.
What happened to the people who enjoy buying physical albums and singles?
Winter Land Man · Member since
[QUOTE]
[b]Major Tom wrote: [/b]
I sat down with a beer the other day and listened to DSOTM. What a masterpiece. I´d give my right arm to see them "reunite". Come on David and Roger, get back together!
[/QUOTE]
What a great album. Many a time over the past summer, my friends and I would get high and hammered and listen to Pink Floyd albums on one of my record players. It was quite good fun.
