Pink Floyd albums removed from iTunes after record contract expires
Numerous albums from legendary rock band Pink Floyd have disappeared from Apple's iTunes store, along with other digital storefronts, following the expiration of a contract between the band and its record label.
Pink Floyd's contract with EMI covering albums post "Dark Side of the Moon" expired on June 30. Since then, some of the band's most popular albums, including "Wish You Were Here," "The Wall," and "Animals," were removed from the iTunes Music Store, as well as Amazon.com and other digital music sellers.
However, the albums -- and some individual tracks -- can still be purchased through the "Oh By the Way" studio album boxset available on iTunes, and released in 2008 by EMI. The set includes both discs of "The Wall," which can be purchased separately from the box set, but "Wish You Were Here" can only be bought as part of the $139.99 total collection.
According to Gibson Lifestyle, Pink Floyd has sold more than 36 million albums in the U.S. since 1991. Last year, physical disc sales alone were 654,000 copies.
The disappearance of the albums came about after the band won a lawsuit against EMI in March, allowing it to block the sale of individual songs on services like iTunes. A High Court in the U.K. determined that the band could "preserve the artistic integrity" of whole albums by not breaking them up into individual song sales.
Pink Floyd and EMI are no longer under contract for later albums, but earlier titles like "Dark Side of the Moon" remain under the label's control. In addition, while EMI can no longer press CDs for titles like "Wish You Were Here," the company can sell its remaining stock of physical albums.
EMI also owns the catalog for The Beatles, and it has been said the issue over single song downloads has been what has kept their tracks from being sold iTunes thus far. Yoko Ono, widow of John Lennon, said earlier this month that fans should not expect the band's catalog to become available on iTunes anytime soon. "Don't hold your breath," she said.
Pink Floyd's contract with EMI covering albums post "Dark Side of the Moon" expired on June 30. Since then, some of the band's most popular albums, including "Wish You Were Here," "The Wall," and "Animals," were removed from the iTunes Music Store, as well as Amazon.com and other digital music sellers.
However, the albums -- and some individual tracks -- can still be purchased through the "Oh By the Way" studio album boxset available on iTunes, and released in 2008 by EMI. The set includes both discs of "The Wall," which can be purchased separately from the box set, but "Wish You Were Here" can only be bought as part of the $139.99 total collection.
According to Gibson Lifestyle, Pink Floyd has sold more than 36 million albums in the U.S. since 1991. Last year, physical disc sales alone were 654,000 copies.
The disappearance of the albums came about after the band won a lawsuit against EMI in March, allowing it to block the sale of individual songs on services like iTunes. A High Court in the U.K. determined that the band could "preserve the artistic integrity" of whole albums by not breaking them up into individual song sales.
Pink Floyd and EMI are no longer under contract for later albums, but earlier titles like "Dark Side of the Moon" remain under the label's control. In addition, while EMI can no longer press CDs for titles like "Wish You Were Here," the company can sell its remaining stock of physical albums.
EMI also owns the catalog for The Beatles, and it has been said the issue over single song downloads has been what has kept their tracks from being sold iTunes thus far. Yoko Ono, widow of John Lennon, said earlier this month that fans should not expect the band's catalog to become available on iTunes anytime soon. "Don't hold your breath," she said.
Comments
Numerous albums from legendary rock band Pink Floyd have disappeared from Apple's iTunes store...
Another stupid, insulting "USA only" story that's not marked as such because no one bothered to check on the other countries?
Pink Floyd is still in *my* iTunes store, all the albums.
Another stupid, insulting "USA only" story that's not marked as such because no one bothered to check on the other countries?
Pink Floyd is still in *my* iTunes store, all the albums.
Dude, chill.
Another stupid, insulting "USA only" story that's not marked as such because no one bothered to check on the other countries?
Read an Apple website based from your own country if you can't stand a US-based website being directed primarily at? GASP? US-based readers. If one even exists.
It's not a big fucking deal.
Give him a few months of smaller royalty checks and he may be back.
But then the Beetles have been willing to see millions lost from their refusal be on iTunes and other stores. Must be nice to be so rick you can turn away from millions like that.
Having said that I own most of Pink Floyd albums and I have converted them to MP3 to listen on my iPods.
So Pink Floyd is basically of the major music market in the US - downloads.
Give him a few months of smaller royalty checks and he may be back.
But then the Beetles have been willing to see millions lost from their refusal be on iTunes and other stores. Must be nice to be so rick you can turn away from millions like that.
Never heard of the Beetles. And who is Rick?
Never heard of the Beetles. And who is Rick?
I'm just wondering which one's pink
I know that some songs sound better and one may skip to favorite parts, but someone has to be arrogant ignorant to take one song completely out of context/composition and buy it.
No, that is called consumer choice. I don't care about the artists integrity at times - I'm the one enjoying it. If it was important to the artists, they should never have sold the content in that fashion.
I find it perfectly acceptable to take things out of context - people have been doing it to classical music for years.
No, that is called consumer choice. I don't care about the artists integrity at times - I'm the one enjoying it. If it was important to the artists, they should never have sold the content in that fashion.
I find it perfectly acceptable to take things out of context - people have been doing it to classical music for years.
Pink Floyd never really released singles though
Pink Floyd never really released singles though
No, but they have released a greatest hits album, and their albums all have separate tracks (namely their CD's).
Never heard of the Beetles. And who is Rick?
Rick Jaggar.
Pink Floyd never really released singles though
Do you suppose they turned down the royalty checks when singles were played on the radio?
Too late baby. Sell your stuff after you, Yoko, and your dumbass advisors are gone.
I'm just wondering which one's pink
So Pink Floyd is basically of the major music market in the US - downloads.
Give him a few months of smaller royalty checks and he may be back.
Oh by the way, which ones Pink?
Pink Floyd was not selling songs anything on iTunes.
EMI was selling Pink Floyd albums on iTunes.