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June 11, 2008 8:50 AM PDT

Metallica really wants you to dislike them

by Don Reisinger

Do you remember Metallica? If you do, you probably remember it for hating on Napster, holding out on iTunes for too long, and generally disliking anything related to the digital revolution.

In recent months, the band has come around and allowed its music to be downloaded on iTunes and generally stayed under the radar while it recorded a new album. Of course, whether or not more than 10,000 rabid fans actually care about this new album is up for debate, but Metallica has remained relatively tight-lipped about its progress.

Until recently.

According to ArsTechnica, Metallica -- in a show of good faith -- invited some music bloggers into the studio to let them listen to six tracks off the band's new album. After listening, the critics wrote up reviews based on what they heard and did not violate any non-disclosure agreements (there weren't any), nor were any specific directions given to them regarding what they could and could not write about.

After the reviews were posted, the bloggers received word from the band's management instructing them to remove the reviews from the site or face legal action.

One blog, The Quietus, told reporters that "The Quietus kept our article up the longest and, as no non-disclosure agreement had been signed," the site's editor wrote, "[we were] not prepared to remove it merely due to the demands of Metallica's management. We only removed the article earlier today to protect the professional interests of the writer concerned."

For its part, Metallica's management claimed that the songs were rough mixes and had no place in reviews that assumed they were finished products. If that's true, why would Metallica invite critics to London to listen to "rough tracks" instead of waiting for the polished songs?

Obviously something doesn't add up.

Regardless, Metallica has once again shown that it's held in contempt all over the world for good reason. Why would we even consider buying an album from a band that continually pushes all the wrong buttons and contends that it's actually protecting the music industry in the process?

In the wide world of music, our level of distrust first begins with the RIAA, but Metallica is running a close second.

How many times are we forced to sit back and listen to Metallica drone on about its distaste for downloads, its penchant for in-store album sales at $20 a pop, and its obsession with the outdated business model before we stand up and finally tell this group of pure fools that their time is up?

Then again, I would guess that we've already done that. Did you know Metallica was releasing a new album? I certainly didn't. And while the band may have been popular more than a decade ago, today, it's nothing more than a washed up group of forty-somethings that are trying desperately to become "legends of rock."

Sorry to break it to you, boys, but unless you come up with something that can transcend the music industry and revolutionize the business, the chances of you making a comeback are practically nil.

Lest you get the wrong idea, my indictment of Metallica has nothing to do with its past mistakes. Sure, it's a band that has tried to keep the music industry back and fails to apply logic to a discussion that seems quite simple, but I can't blame them for trying to hold on to something that worked when they were popular.

Today though, time has left Metallica in its dust and the momentum of this industry is moving quickly towards a day where music downloads are the only form of distribution. And regardless of the fact that Metallica wants to bully bloggers, hate on downloaders, and ostracize its listeners, there's nothing the band can do about it.

Metallica, once again, has shown us how sad it really is. In an attempt to hold on to something it once had, the band is showing how long in the tooth it really is.

Sorry, boys. Your time has come and gone. Now if you don't mind, get out of the way.

For more on what Don is up to, follow him on Twitter by clicking here!

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 1 of 6 pages (116 Comments)
by ptath2 June 11, 2008 9:25 AM PDT
I will decide for myself as to whether Mettalica's time over or not, thank you. While I didn't like Mettallicas stand against Napster at the time, now that I have grown up and am not a starving college student anymore, I realize they had a point. At the time there was no way for them to be compensated on this new emerging distribution model, and I don?t work for free and I shouldn't expect them to. As for the Apple thing, there was a fairness issue also, and as a person who was screwed in the gen 1 ipod battery fiasco, I don't have a lot of sympathy for Apple. Their struggles to adjust to the change in the music industry aside, I didn't like the majority of the last few Mettallica albums, but their body of work still buys them the benefit of the doubt in my book. The good news for Mettallica and any other artist for that matter is, in this download paradigm you don't have to put out a good album anymore just a good couple of songs. I will wait to here thier new Album for myself, I don't have to like them to like the music, I will never invite them over for a BBQ anyway.
Reply to this comment
by commandlock June 11, 2008 9:26 AM PDT
As the song goes, it's sad but true.
Reply to this comment
by commandlock June 11, 2008 9:27 AM PDT
As the song goes, it's sad but true.
Reply to this comment
by letzgoout_dot_com June 11, 2008 9:32 AM PDT
I'd have loved to have gotten a chance to see what the bloggers wrote. It's a shame these guys have become so lame. It was an awesome band back in the day. Why they couldn't evolve like so many other awesome bands is beyond me. Like you said, they must actually want us to dislike them. It's starting to work. I'll still listen to their old stuff though.
Reply to this comment
by Metalmusiclover June 11, 2008 10:50 AM PDT
You must be kidding. Do you have any idea how many young people listen to Metallica? Their parents introduced them to Metallica and they, in turn, introduced the band to their friends. I, on the other hand, am a bigger listener of Metallica now at 47 (& female) then I ever was at 16, and I can put that blame on my 13 year-old daughter. Now 16, she and her friends recently went to a festival concert where Metallica headlined and believe me, the Ampitheater was packed with people under the age of 30. Metal music is alive and well and Metallica is the 'Grandfather' band that many of these newer bands fashion themselves after. They ARE Legends of Rock and I have no doubt that any new music that comes out of their corner will be gobbled up by hordes of young rockers as well as their parents. If you are going to voice your opinion on rock/metal music, maybe you should get out there among the people that really listen to it.
Reply to this comment
by TheGearbox June 11, 2008 10:51 AM PDT
Metallica is a JOKE and will that will we etched into their name for eternity. They release sub par albums, and give the big Ol middle finger to their fans and critics relentlessly. They remind me of the grandparent who refuses to pick up a computer because they are too stubborn to even try; this is Metallica in a nut shell, unwilling to adapt, and we know what happens to those who refuse to adapt. Hmm...I wonder how Radiohead and NIN are making money, they must work for free (Sarcasm).
Reply to this comment
by ZaxanRazor June 11, 2008 11:35 AM PDT
Dear God, the blogging community is really showing off how truly stupid and incompetent they are here -

There are loads of blogs cropping up about this, yet not a SINGLE ONE has the facts right, instead they are all just trying to make a name for themselves by posting generic crap that they make up or borrow from someone else who made it up.

This is another poorly researched, inaccurate article written by a failed journalist.
Reply to this comment
by cnetcensorssuck June 12, 2008 1:01 PM PDT
Trust me when I tell you that you're a complete moron!
by ZaxanRazor June 11, 2008 11:36 AM PDT
Dear God, the blogging community is really showing off how truly stupid and incompetent they are here -

There are loads of blogs cropping up about this, yet not a SINGLE ONE has the facts right, instead they are all just trying to make a name for themselves by posting generic crap that they make up or borrow from someone else who made it up.

This is another poorly researched, inaccurate article written by a failed journalist.
Reply to this comment
by pjhenry1216 June 12, 2008 8:59 AM PDT
Thanks for clearing that up with all the corrections... oh wait... you didn't say what was wrong, nor did you say what really happened.
by popeoldham June 11, 2008 4:18 PM PDT
http://i2-images.tv2.dk/s/37/2023737-6aa7c8a7b04b09771290378b867b33cc.jpeg

I guess no one told all these people that Metallica were washed up has-beens.

I find that this piece lacks facts of any kind, which, i imagine, is why you are a writer for PC World amongst others, where finding actual information from credible sources isn't that important.

"How many times are we forced to sit back and listen to Metallica drone on about its distaste for downloads, its penchant for in-store album sales at $20 a pop, and its obsession with the outdated business model before we stand up and finally tell this group of pure fools that their time is up?"
Erm... no one forces you to read about Metallica, so that can be marked down as zero. And, might I add, they never stated a dislike for Downloads, they didn't like their music being downloaded for free. Tell me, Don Reisinger, do you write for free?
When do we tell them that their time is up? Good question. Perhaps playing to over 50,000 fans at Rock Am Ring amongst other festivals where they have headlined this spring is a pretty good sign that the bands time is FAR from up. I have a question for you Don, how can you tell when a journalists time is up? When they start writing blogs on an internet site that is full of misquotations, lack of journalistic integrity and depth, as well as being full of subjective points of view that seem to come from someone who is sad that someone told them off for illegal file sharing.

I think my reply was more articulated and factual that your article.

Cherrio
Reply to this comment
by pjhenry1216 June 12, 2008 9:01 AM PDT
Might want to check for typos and grammatical errors before stating you're more articulated than a journalist...
by David01110 June 12, 2008 9:27 AM PDT
Perhaps you mean "articulate"?

I loves me some irony.
by Couch-head June 14, 2008 7:41 AM PDT
Great post, popeoldham...couldn't have said it better myself. This guys a hack, and he should be fired for producing such drivel.
by popeoldham June 12, 2008 12:53 AM PDT
Oh, here is something else for you Don

http://www.metallica.com/index.asp?item=600942

See ya later
Reply to this comment
by guest110 June 12, 2008 3:43 AM PDT
"why would Metallica invite critics to London to listen to "rough tracks" instead of waiting for the polished songs?" why do you think you dork! magazines have long lead times and have to write features way in advance. the record wouldn't be ready in time before they went to press. pretty simple really isn't it. Yes a very poorly researched article. Chinese whispers.
Reply to this comment
by eosgreg June 12, 2008 4:44 AM PDT
I disargee, metallica ARE legends of rock and are one of the worlds biggest bands with over 100 million albums sales wordwide.
But did the writer look of metallica's website for research, the answer is clearly not as metallica record every live show they play and make them downloadable through their website, i know i have used the site to download them playing at Wembley Statium in London in 2007 in for over 70 000 people, clearly not a band left in the dust!
Metallica ARE still one the biggest rock/metal on earth they still headline at the major rock and metal festivals around the world, i feel that Don you need to research the band before attacking the band because this clearly not done.
By the way i am 18 in the "ipod generation" and well buy a CD and having something physical is SO much better a file on a computer.

Also Don check this out http://www.livemetallica.com/ you can download metallica shows from now back to 1982 not bad for a band generally disliking anything related to the digital revolution.
Reply to this comment
by technomonk13 June 12, 2008 6:07 AM PDT
you hit the nail on the head. metallica is comprised of a pack of washed up pricks...
Reply to this comment
by MetalHead62 June 12, 2008 7:30 AM PDT
Really? 70,000 packed Wembley last year to watch them play. THis year they are headlining the Reading Festival....

Washed up - interesting definition.... Oh and I wonder how many legal sales the new album will make when it comes out? I would conjecture into the millions and probably one of the biggest selling releases on the planet this year.

My recollection of their argument in the past was people "stealing" their product through illegal filesharing. They have an amazing download back catalogue if you care to look at their site. Probably one of the most impressive in that they make mant of their concerts available for download and at a reasonable price.
by sjohnsto June 12, 2008 6:47 AM PDT
Hey, Don--don't speak too soon. Check this out: http://www.metallica.com/index.asp?item=600942

In essence, it was a mistake at Q Prime--not Metallica's fault.
Reply to this comment
by tony99taurus June 12, 2008 8:29 AM PDT
wow, another ridiculous comment by this writer, "metallica washed up", "unless they come up with something to transcend the music industry"......Metallica did more for more for music than you will ever do for journalistic integrity...*******.
Reply to this comment
by missinbrain June 12, 2008 11:40 AM PDT
amen!
by george_liquor June 12, 2008 8:47 AM PDT
Metallica WAS the greatest metal act--in 1988. Now they're circling the drain, but their giant egos can't quite fit through.
Reply to this comment
by missinbrain June 12, 2008 11:41 AM PDT
If you've sold more albums than any other band beyond the Beatles, how can that be "circling the drain"?
by LuMan187 June 12, 2008 9:03 AM PDT
http://www.metallica.com/index.asp?item=600942

Here's Metallica's side of things. Please don't act like CNN and NBC news and try to get BOTH sides of the story before you make a moron of yourself.
Reply to this comment
by pjhenry1216 June 12, 2008 9:06 AM PDT
To all those people posting those links to metallica saying it was a big mistake, keep in mind the statement was made *after* this article was written...
Reply to this comment
by boredofdictators June 12, 2008 9:17 AM PDT
This story has moved on a little more http://boredofdictators.wordpress.com/2008/06/12/metallica-versus-bloggers-takes-a-new-twist/
Reply to this comment
by JakeDTS June 12, 2008 9:21 AM PDT
the person that wrote this article is absolutely oblivious and should not even have access to a keyboard. "metallica's distaste for downloads" do you know that metallica releases every single concert they perform as a download within days sometimes hours of the actual event? yeah they charge for it but i dont work for free so i dont expect metallica to either. especially since their music back in the 80's and very early 90's affected so many people and still 20 years later those songs have the same fire they did back then. i mean there has to be some underlying tension with this writer knowing he could never reach anyone like metallica has. in fact maybe don reisinger wants you to dislike him?
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About The Digital Home

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.

Don writes product reviews for InformationWeek and is a regular contributor to Processor Magazine. You can visit his personal site at DonReisinger.com or if you would like to email Don with questions or comments, drop him a line at CNETDigitalHome@gmail.com. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.

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