Post by Sugarmama on Oct 3, 2008 3:43:36 GMT -5
Kid Rock, Longtime Holdout, Goes Digital With Rhapsody
By BEN SISARIO
Published: October 2, 2008
Kid Rock is finally going digital.
One of the last major acts to refuse to sell his music online, Kid Rock, the bawdy rap-rocker from Detroit, has made a deal with Rhapsody to offer his entire catalog for streaming and downloading, beginning Friday. Rhapsody, a joint venture of Real Networks and MTV, has 1.8 million subscribers to its streaming service, and also sells MP3s.
To attract him the company agreed to his stipulation that customers be able to download only complete albums, not individual tracks. Many stars, including AC/DC and Bob Seger, have complained that Apple’s iTunes store does not make that accommodation; since full albums are much more profitable than singles, that can cut deeply into the bottom line.
“The real issue here is flexibility in terms of artists being able to do what they want,” said Ken Levitan, the singer’s manager.
Kid Rock, whose real name is Bob Ritchie, has scored one of the biggest hits of the year despite being absent from iTunes, the largest music retailer in the United States. His song “All Summer Long,” a reminiscence of teenage romance that samples Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” and Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London,” has been ubiquitous on rock radio, and his most recent album, “Rock N Roll Jesus,” has sold nearly 2.1 million copies since it was released a year ago.
In his career he has sold 20 million albums, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
For four months Rhapsody will be the exclusive online seller of Kid Rock’s music, said Neil Smith, the company’s vice president of business management. After that period ends, his music may be sold on other download services as well, said Mr. Levitan and Kid Rock’s label, Atlantic.
In addition to Rhapsody’s offer of selling by the album only, Mr. Smith said, the company also promised a range of promotional enticements through its partnerships with Verizon Wireless, MTV and other companies. MTV will also present the premiere of the video for “Roll On,” the album’s latest single, on Friday.
“We’re here to get stuff online,” Mr. Smith said, “and figure out ways to work with labels and artists that are mutually beneficial.”
By BEN SISARIO
Published: October 2, 2008
Kid Rock is finally going digital.
One of the last major acts to refuse to sell his music online, Kid Rock, the bawdy rap-rocker from Detroit, has made a deal with Rhapsody to offer his entire catalog for streaming and downloading, beginning Friday. Rhapsody, a joint venture of Real Networks and MTV, has 1.8 million subscribers to its streaming service, and also sells MP3s.
To attract him the company agreed to his stipulation that customers be able to download only complete albums, not individual tracks. Many stars, including AC/DC and Bob Seger, have complained that Apple’s iTunes store does not make that accommodation; since full albums are much more profitable than singles, that can cut deeply into the bottom line.
“The real issue here is flexibility in terms of artists being able to do what they want,” said Ken Levitan, the singer’s manager.
Kid Rock, whose real name is Bob Ritchie, has scored one of the biggest hits of the year despite being absent from iTunes, the largest music retailer in the United States. His song “All Summer Long,” a reminiscence of teenage romance that samples Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” and Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London,” has been ubiquitous on rock radio, and his most recent album, “Rock N Roll Jesus,” has sold nearly 2.1 million copies since it was released a year ago.
In his career he has sold 20 million albums, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
For four months Rhapsody will be the exclusive online seller of Kid Rock’s music, said Neil Smith, the company’s vice president of business management. After that period ends, his music may be sold on other download services as well, said Mr. Levitan and Kid Rock’s label, Atlantic.
In addition to Rhapsody’s offer of selling by the album only, Mr. Smith said, the company also promised a range of promotional enticements through its partnerships with Verizon Wireless, MTV and other companies. MTV will also present the premiere of the video for “Roll On,” the album’s latest single, on Friday.
“We’re here to get stuff online,” Mr. Smith said, “and figure out ways to work with labels and artists that are mutually beneficial.”
