When 'Gangsters' collide: Shawn Carter vs. Steve Jobs?

Phil Thu, Nov 8, 2007 at 12:09 PM EST

I don't think Jay-Z is dumb by any means, I def. think this move to not sell "American Gangster" on iTunes is a power play, as I stated last night. If anything its more of a gamble for Jay since IF "American Gangster" debuts at #1 next week, apparently he'll be tied with Elvis Presely for the MOST #1 albums, with 10. And iTunes is apparently NOT the most powerful retailer of music, last I read it was Wal-Mart, which is probably why the Eagles has such a big sucess story there last week. And to Steve, who said he went to the Virgin Megastore earlier this week to purchase the disc, I live in Philadelphia. A fairly LARGE major city. After Tower recordds closed its doors, we are now stuck with a few FYEs scattered across the city, & as most will tell ya FYEs are SERIOUSLY over-priced. Not a Virgin Megastore anywhere near by. Most people here have to now buy cds at Targets, or Best Buys. Does that even SEEM likely since I live in 1 of the largest cities in the U.S.? Sad but TRUE reality.

ZF Thu, Nov 8, 2007 at 10:21 AM EST

Okay, I was wrong. It's album-only.

ZF Thu, Nov 8, 2007 at 10:21 AM EST

Well, as of this morning, it's still available on Napster, and it looks like it can be purchased tune-by-tune, though the recent software upgrade makes it more difficult to spot the album-only arrangement.

Charlie Thu, Nov 8, 2007 at 09:29 AM EST

Even with an iPod, I still get excited about buying CDs when they're released. I like pouring over the packaging and hearing the CD in the correct order. And for people like me, I respect Jay-Z's decision to try to protect the integrity of his music as he chooses to present it. But still, it does seem silly to ignore iTunes, especially when CD sales are sluggish, at best.

Dan TO Thu, Nov 8, 2007 at 09:09 AM EST

Steve, I think it's a bit of a stretch to say iTunes and singles are killing the music industry, when far more tracks are still downloaded for free through file sharing. Even with the Radiohead thing, 62% paid zero. It's a bit of a conundrum because iTunes is quickly becoming the most powerful retailer in music, but it's also the only model that's had any success against P2P. Personally, I think Jay-Z is dumber than that guy from Metallica, but if he wants to cling to the concept of the whole album, let him. I won't have any remorse about pirating if he's not going to sell to me in the manner I prefer.

Steve Wed, Nov 7, 2007 at 11:34 PM EST

Let's face it. Itunes and download-able singles are killing the music biz. Yes, Kanye benifited from having 300,000 people buy his entire album on Itunes the first week. But it is not Itunes policy to sell only the album without making each track available seperately. They make most of their money from the 99cent single. Young consumers don't know what it means to buy entire albums. They're on Itunes singles shopping. It's unfortunate but true. Gone are the days of MJ selling 25mil/Alanis Morisettte 20 mil/Usher 10mil. Today you would buy Billie Jean or Beat It and wait to see what the other singles would be. Today you have Soulja Boy at #1 and artists putting out 2 or three singles before thier albums come out, because it is a singles driven market place. So I applaud Jay. I went to buy it on Itunes, couldn't find it and went to Virgin Megastore. They were so happy to see me : )

(Ironically-rumor has it that Jay is [was] in talks with Apple to run their new record division) hmmmm!

Phil Wed, Nov 7, 2007 at 09:21 PM EST

There's def. an air of behind the scenes shade going on here, since YES, iTunes did sell & advertise the "American Gangster" disc as a pre-order. This def. has deeper ties to Universal's reluctance to renew their contract with iTunes & this was their first opening salvo to really make a dent against iTunes. Jay masquerading behind the "artistic integrity" mask is actually highly comical. Anyone who has ever purchased dance albums off iTunes can tell you, that YES, in fact iTunes does sell full albums by albums only & not just individual songs. The only donwfall to this, is that they are usually one continuously long track, with no track list, which kinda sucks when buying dance mixes by DJ, considering you have various artists, titles and song mixes to go through! But I digress, there is DEFINIELY more going on with Def Jam NOT releasing this highly anticipated album to Itunes for sale. Jay can claim whatever excuse he wants, but there are moves being made in a boardroom somewhere!

Ben Wed, Nov 7, 2007 at 08:06 PM EST

What's awesome is my pre-order already went through and I have the album via iTunes. H to the izzo!

JP Wed, Nov 7, 2007 at 07:58 PM EST

Kinda reminds me of when Prince released Lovesexy way back when. The CD didn't have individual tracks; it was just one long track. I understand he wanted the songs to be listened to in a certain order, but it made it a pain in the a__ if you ever had to stop the CD and resume where you left off.

Fatima Wed, Nov 7, 2007 at 07:42 PM EST

AND because I can't stop commenting, I am FAIRLY certain that itunes had a pre-order that they were advertising before the tracklist even came out in its correct form. There has to be something we're not hearing, otherwise I don't know how it could have switched so fast.

Roc Boys (And The Winner Is) is seriously my favorite song of the year right now.

Fatima Wed, Nov 7, 2007 at 07:40 PM EST

But anyway, I find this funny because I don't have any record stores anywhere near my campus and I want this CD so bad in a legal way that I actually considered buying my first full length album off iTunes. Guess that's not happening!

Fatima Wed, Nov 7, 2007 at 07:38 PM EST

Well John, then how bought you just don't buy it?

daisyj Wed, Nov 7, 2007 at 06:57 PM EST

Re: The album-only question, I'd be interested in knowing the answer to that too. My gut says there's something more going on here, because I can't see why Apple wouldn't make a deal to suspend their policy (if it exists) for such a major album.

Ellipsian Wed, Nov 7, 2007 at 06:27 PM EST

Marci and Jason: I believe it's against Apple's policy to require someone to purchase an entire album. They make certain songs "Album Only" but I've never seen a whole album follow this model. I'd like to know definitively though: can anyone prove me wrong and show me an iTunes album that requires the entire album be purchased, or shed some more light on the subject?

John Wed, Nov 7, 2007 at 05:55 PM EST

Who cares what he does...he needs a reminder not all appreciate the "gangsta" motif.

Dave Wed, Nov 7, 2007 at 05:53 PM EST

I bought the album on iTunes at 2AM on Tuesday right when it came out. Guess, there were problems removing it quickly. Anyway they'll never remove this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WwRX9WyBQo

Marci Wed, Nov 7, 2007 at 05:45 PM EST

Jason, that's what I was thinking too.

Jason Wed, Nov 7, 2007 at 05:28 PM EST

Why didn't Jay-Z just make it so you have to buy all of the songs on iTunes? Can't it be "Album Only?"