King Crimson on iTunes?

[Brainforest]

There's a good chance this has been discussed here before and I'm just late to the party, but why aren't any KC albums available for download? I decided to fill in a couple holes in my collection with the recent remixes and found nothing on iTunes, Amazon, etc. I'm sure it has to do with Fripp himself, but still very annoying. Any insights?

[zombywoof]

Probably because Fripp doesn't support downloads and would rather people buy the records on physical form. I tend to agree.

[Wisdomview]

Plus, iTunes sucks. Hail Fripp.

[jkelman]

Probably because Fripp doesn't support downloads and would rather people buy the records on physical form. I tend to agree.

Or, at least, he doesn't support compressed versions of music he and Steven Wilson and/or Jakko Jakszyk spent so long to make them sound great.

[N_Singh]

Probably because Fripp doesn't support downloads and would rather people buy the records on physical form. I tend to agree.

Doesn't support downloads? I bought all the 1972, 1981, and 1995 tours on FLAC from DGMLive. Used a bit torrent even. Legally. Of course Fripp supports downloads. Just not iTunes.

It's kind of a moot point. If someone wanted to download the entire KC catalogue, it's not that hard. Me? I bought all the 5.1 sets, including the mammoth Larks box. The best way to combat downloads is to offer high quality, well packaged 5.1s--in which you better not listen through your computer speakers.

[NogbadTheBad]

He's been ripped off by th music industry over the years and doesn't bless this format. Good luck to him.

[oilersfan]

Part of the answer is Fripp's ongoing troubles with UMG...

[NogbadTheBad]

licensing licensing licensing

[Brainforest]

No doubt if I dug around I could find downloads of everything, but I like to pay for music. I haven't bought a CD in a few years and really don't want to start again. Maybe my hearing ability isn't as refined as some people, but I'm perfectly happy with iTunes and 256k mp3's sounds just fine to me.

Fripp has every right to offer his music on whatever format he chooses, but I still find it annoying.

[NogbadTheBad]

Fripp has every right to offer his music on whatever format he chooses, but I still find it annoying.

He doesn't care. Buy the CD.

[notallwhowander]

Probably because Fripp doesn't support downloads and would rather people buy the records on physical form. I tend to agree.

DGM Live is his download site, the one that his company runs. So it isn't about digital downloads. As I understand it, iTunes is a real poor deal for artists. iTunes actually takes a bigger share of the sale than brick-and-mortar retailers. They probably offer terms that Fripp doesn't care for.

[Frumious B]

Probably because Fripp doesn't support downloads and would rather people buy the records on physical form. I tend to agree.

I think that's a shortsighted view. He's basically ensuring that virtually no fans beyond his current generation of aging fans will ever pick up on his music unless they do so illegally which is sad because I think Crimson could go over pretty well with younger listeners.

[Wisdomview]

I think that's a shortsighted view. He's basically ensuring that virtually no fans beyond his current generation of aging fans will ever pick up on his music unless they do so illegally which is sad because I think Crimson could go over pretty well with younger listeners.

iTunes is for the moment and the tide will change.

BTW, I know many younger listeners who have purchased KC cd's.

[zombywoof]

I think that's a shortsighted view. He's basically ensuring that virtually no fans beyond his current generation of aging fans will ever pick up on his music unless they do so illegally which is sad because I think Crimson could go over pretty well with younger listeners.

Refusing to buy music because it can't be found on iTunes is a rather short-sighted view, as well.

[Spiral]

iTunes sucks.

Everything I thought of saying so far has been said in the thread already, but that one always bears repeating. iTunes sucks.

[bRETT]

iTunes sucks.

Everything I thought of saying so far has been said in the thread already, but that one always bears repeating. iTunes sucks.

If you're buying downloads, Amazon at least offers a better deal (no DRM, and about $1 less on most albums.) Then again, they don't pay the artists better, and dont have Crimson either.

[TheH]

Who needs MP3 anyway? Get a CD and make your own files of whatever format you want.

All this download junk sucks and destroys music anyway.

[Frumious B]

iTunes is for the moment and the tide will change.

BTW, I know many younger listeners who have purchased KC cd's.

Whether iTunes stays a part of it or not, the future is downloads and streaming. You either get on the bus or you get left behind.

[TheH]

Whether iTunes stays a part of it or not, the future is downloads and streaming. You either get on the bus or you get left behind.

Why does it have to be that way? It will go the way the consumer wants it!

For me a download is not worth anything, a stream even less. I want my physical product and none of that digital sh*t

[Wisdomview]

I don't know for sure, but my guess is that Fripp can sleep at night without bowing to iTunes. I don't see an issue.

[Mister Triscuits]

I think that's a shortsighted view. He's basically ensuring that virtually no fans beyond his current generation of aging fans will ever pick up on his music unless they do so illegally which is sad because I think Crimson could go over pretty well with younger listeners.

It's the opposite of short-sighted. Fripp is fiercely protective of his rights to his music, and he isn't willing to bend over for iTunes and accept the piddling amount of compensation they offer just because they happen to be the flavor of the month. He knows that if he lets it go for cheap now, it'll be cheap from now on. In a sense, he has "equity" in his music, and he's hanging onto it. He's not against downloads per se, of course: he offers tons of them himself through DGM. There's probably a legal reason why he doesn't offer King Crimson's studio albums at present, but I'm sure he will eventually--on his own terms.

[Wisdomview]

^

[Frumious B]

It's the opposite of short-sighted. Fripp is fiercely protective of his rights to his music, and he isn't willing to bend over for iTunes and accept the piddling amount of compensation they offer just because they happen to be the flavor of the month. He knows that if he lets it go for cheap now, it'll be cheap from now on. In a sense, he has "equity" in his music, and he's hanging onto it. He's not against downloads per se, of course: he offers tons of them himself through DGM. There's probably a legal reason why he doesn't offer King Crimson's studio albums at present, but I'm sure he will eventually--on his own terms.

But meanwhile the overall value of his franchise drops to the point where he has to sell increasingly pricey packages to fewer and fewer people who are mostly all ready fans of the music in question.

[Mister Triscuits]

But meanwhile the overall value of his franchise drops to the point where he has to sell increasingly pricey packages

If he's successful in selling "increasingly pricey packages"--which he clearly is, given the sellout of the massive ITCOTCK box set and the brisk sales of the even more massive LTIA box set--then it's hardly accurate to say that the value of his holdings has dropped!

[Yanks2014]

Why does it have to be that way? It will go the way the consumer wants it!
For me a download is not worth anything, a stream even less. I want my physical product and none of that digital sh*t

Well like it or not, the physical product is getting less and less popular. The consumer demand is drying up rather quickly. I prefer cd's, but even I just load it onto iTunes, it's just an easier format, and I love having all my music in one place. I get the physical product which is great for the artwork, liner notes etc., but I don't even play the disc anymore. Its sort of just the backup if the file gets corrupted. Times change, technology changes and so have I.