Updated, Saturday, 4:15 pm PCT: The track has now been reinstated on Spotify.
It was there on Wednesday. And then poof, gone on Thursday. And just like that, Van Halen's latest single, "Tattoo" was yanked from Spotify, while the iTunes Store appears to be carrying the exclusive. The single is the lead-up to the album, A Different Kind of Truth, all part of a massive, upcoming tour.
Spotify did respond to an inquiry from Digital Music News, but has declined to offer any official statement. Earlier, Bob Lefsetz pointed to an accidental upload. "The label screwed up," Lefsetz offered in a late-night email blast on Thursday. "Interscope gave iTunes a one week exclusive and violated its agreement. The track should be back up on Spotify in four days. Van Halen had nothing to do with pulling it down."
Amazon MP3 is also waiting for the single, which supports that explanation. And, a source close to Spotify has also corroborated that explanation, while pointing to a reinstatement over the weekend. More as it develops.
And, here's more on the upcoming tour, which starts February 18th in Louisville.
Comments Closed
Shameless Friday, January 13, 2012
Well, who knew? Another sensationalist headline from Digital Music News to cover for the fact that it's a negligible story and your blog has rapidly become more pandering than Us Weekly to a Nicole Ritchie fan club.
Seriously. Slow news days are no excuse for your laziness.
Vail, CO Friday, January 13, 2012
Dude. It's just an article.
Ignacio Friday, January 13, 2012
try some medicinal marijuana?
Thames Friday, January 13, 2012
A well poured pint also soothes a man's mind.
David Allan Friday, January 13, 2012
paul Friday, January 13, 2012
David, I'll gladly defend the story. And I think you may look at the article differently after reading this.
First, the headline is factual. Van Halen - or representatives of Van Halen - removed their latest track from Spotify. Abruptly.
Second, Spotify has not officially responded with an explanation - in fact they have specifically declined to do so - though yes, a source has confirmed to us that Lefsetz is mostly right. But as you can see in the article, there's some disagreement as to when the song will be re-uploaded.
In terms of whether or not you feel this story is important, I'd argue that this is an important story. First, Van Halen removed the track even through thousands, tens of thousands, or more were sampling it already. After reading Lefsetz's review of it, I was sampling it and planned to return to hear more on Thursday.
So was a removal the best move for the band/Interscope, which ultimately wants to promote a tour and album? Perhaps they could have apologized to Apple instead without the removal, promised something else down the road. Who knows.
But more importantly, why is Spotify being forced to wait? Why such an aggressive windowing strategy from some of the biggest bands in the world? That to me is the biggest issue going on right now, and this development is part of that - and unfortunately, part of Spotify's future if major adjustments are not made.
I hope you'll consider those perspectives.
Thanks.
/paul
Dan Friday, January 13, 2012
I don't think the validity of the article was being disputed. It's the sensationalist headline. You know very well that the headline was intended to get fans riled up. The very dude you quote in the article says quite plainly that Van Halen didn't do it, Interscope did. I don't know why you would defend your article by saying "Van Halen or representatives" made the foul play.
Vail, CO Friday, January 13, 2012
You Spotify fanboys/employees need to give this a rest. Not every article is going to be the brown nosing piece saying Spotify is amazing.
I bet if Digital Music News checked the I P addresses of these comments they'd all go to the same place.
Edtiors Friday, January 13, 2012
I very much agree. I wish DMN would updated "headlines" like this once the facts prove them clearly wrong. Surely DMN doesn't need to rely on misleading, sensational headlines just to get people to click on links. I mean this isn't HuffPost here, right?
JacksonL Friday, January 13, 2012
Van Halen: COME ON. iTunes exclusive? NO.
You know Lefsetz was banging that track to the industry, so then you go YANK it? Way to burn the believer.
Nice work, gentlemen!
Paradox Friday, January 13, 2012
So many articles about Spotify.
Where is one for Muve Music? which surpasses 500,000 paid subscribers in the USA in just a little over 8 months. (#2 behind Rhapsody right now, with Spotify in third with 400,000 paid subscribers).
Muve Music is a bundle service in which you get unlimited talk, text, data and music downloads on Android for $65 a month.
It's something the music industry been pushing for in the past decade.
I think it's more revolutionary than Spotify. Why? There are 300 million mobile users in the USA. Imagine if Verizon, ATT, Sprint, T-Mobile bundle their service with unlimited music downloads.
p.s. Spotify will cross the 3,000,000 paid subscribers mark within 3 weeks.
Julien Friday, January 13, 2012
It's up and streaming on Deezer. Although Van Halen may not be as big in Deezer countries as it is in the States...
So, itunes exclusive in the US only maybe...
BTW: keep the good work
Parodox Friday, January 13, 2012
Muve Music USA paid subscribers:
July 7th, 2011: 100,000 paid subscribers
Sept 8th: 200,000 paid subscribers
Dec 31st: 500,000 paid subscribers
Before: Unlimited talk, text, data for $55 a month
After the bundling: Unlimited talk, text, data and unlimited music downloads for $65 a month
It's revolutionary!!!!
Cricket has 5 million subscribers and yet 10% of them are already on this plan and it's GROWING.
Imagine if a giant like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint or T-mobile do the same thing. It's the music industry wet dream.
Downloads? Friday, January 13, 2012
Are you sure they are unlimited downloads?
From what I'm seeing here Muve is a streaming service to your phone.
Spotify, Rdio, and Mog work on multiple platforms, and integrate a few different features...
The bundling is an interesting concept though.
Voltaire Electric Friday, January 13, 2012
No. It's stuck on the phone and can only be part of the bundle.
Numbers sound fishy/not verified so who knows.
Paradox Friday, January 13, 2012
The 500,000 paid subscribers are from their press release.
Leap Wireless is a publicly traded company.
The music is downloaded to the mobile phone. As long as you keep paying for a phone service, you will have access to your music.
Paradox Friday, January 13, 2012
Muve Music is not a streaming service.
It's a download service but once you stop paying the phone bill, you lose access to your music. Once you pay for a phone service again, you regain that access.
HansH Friday, January 13, 2012
Bob Lefsetz's article is worth a read though:
I quote:
"I’m sick and tired of these acts putting money first. Refusing to be on the bleeding edge but insisting on pulling up the rear, screaming, kicking and crying all the way that they just can’t make the kind of money they used to. Meanwhile, they kick us in the balls by charging in excess of a hundred dollars for a concert ticket, have you seen the Van Halen ticket prices? $162 bucks a ticket? Hell, you already did the reunion show, isn’t this one supposed to be for the fans?
Everyone complains they can’t get rich. Black Keys are not on Spotify, nor is Adele. Because they need to get all that cash. If these acts were in a burning building they wouldn’t turn around and save their coworkers, they’d rush out, putting chairs under doors so no one could impede their descent."
nathanJE Friday, January 13, 2012
I think that hurts, not helps, your argument LOL.
Non - Story Friday, January 13, 2012
How about a positive spin on Spotify? How about a story about how many tracks get added to Spotify a day? I work with every DMS in the world + Spotify is the send best injester in the world (after Apple)
Considering the infrstructure that Apple has I think that's impressive,
Viva la Spotify!!
David
nathan Friday, January 13, 2012
I love how Spotify fanboys go to war on every Digital Music News article.
anonymous Friday, January 13, 2012
Non - Story Friday, January 13, 2012
How about a positive spin on Spotify? How about a story about how many tracks get added to Spotify a day? I work with every DMS in the world + Spotify is the send best injester in the world (after Apple)
Considering the infrstructure that Apple has I think that's impressive,
Viva la Spotify!!
David
another guru Friday, January 13, 2012
«send best injester»
??!?!?
You can't even type, yet you present yourself as an expert in global financial issues.
Curious Friday, January 13, 2012
Could anyone from UMG/Interscope please post the daily iTunes sales? If the iTunes sales remain steady (factoring for standard day of the week trends) after removal from Spotify, this could show whether Spotify affects iTunes track sales for a new single (at least for this band).
effin Friday, January 13, 2012
interesting how different windowing strategies are being pursued by different artists, wonder what will benefit them the most while also keeping fans happy.
@Tampa_Rick Sunday, January 15, 2012
It never ceases to amaze me what the "suits" will do for music Biz P.R.
Accidental upload my ass..mercy son!
@MusicIdeaz Monday, January 16, 2012
Now you see it, now you don't!
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