The Beatles Boob

Artrockers,
The Beatles on iTunes - a good thing? Discuss. Not much to discuss as far as I'm concerned - it is not a good thing. And Christian Ward, writing in yesterday's Guardian seems to agree: 'Couldn't the biggest band in the history of pop have found a way of placing their music online without it becoming just another commodity in Apple's gadget-flogging industrial complex?' he continued: 'the addition of such celebrated music to an online store that isn't really about music at all (it's about selling expensive white boxes) is perhaps symbolic of the way in which popular songs – magical things, each with its own history, influence and effect – are ill-served by iTunes.' To which I add my own 'Amen'. Yes, the music industry have handed the crown jewels to a computer company, one day they'll have to stand before the final jury and explain exactly how they managed to do that, how they managed to scuttle their own business and then hand over the salvage rights to the people who were pulling out the plugs. It doesn't make any sense to me, never has. I find myself banging the noodle against the wall everytime I think about it. But it's done, and there may be no way back. As a callow youth I studied Economics, inelasticity of demand, all that stuff, most of which has slipped from my brain as smoke, but I do recall that we spent a great deal of time discussing the anathema of the business world: Monopolies. The Yanks hate them and so do we. When I was studying I seem to recall that anything over a 30% market share might be considered a monopoly and dangerous for the market - so I was surprised to discover that iTunes alledgedly has a 70% market share in Europe and approaching 30% in the USA. Even in the days of the distributor giants (EMI, PHONGRAM, CBS) none of them achieved a 70% market share, and if they had there would have been hell to pay. The last government (rot their souls) mucked about with monopolies legislation, pulled its teeth and left it huddled in a corner begging for mercy, so now we have to look to Europe to sort out our mess. The iTunes monopoly is being investigated in Europe and the USA, but don't expect anything to come of it.
The Beatles will no doubt be on Spotify any day now, don't even start me on Spotify, it really is the craziest thing in the universe.

Tom Artrocker

Last week I asked which was best; That'll Be The Day or Stardust and asked for your Rock'n'Roll Movie nominations. Here are just a few of the responses;

Have to go with That'll be the day as the better one...just for keith moon with a teddy boy get up..
It also shows what the 50s were like in the uk, none of the freedom and rock and roll of the 50s usa had, still had rationing, meters for the electricity and the only fun was a quick knee trembler behind the dodgems while nobody was looking. Stardust has its moments too, but overall I'd watch That'll be the day if it was starting in 5 mins..neither of them aren't as good as The Rutles though..
-chris

-

Hi Tom,
I love your editorial emails, as ever! My votes for top rock movies are:

Decline of Western Civilization
Fugazi’s “Instrument”
Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkie
Ta,
Pete

-


Tom -- I don't think I ever sent you Garry Mulholland's Popcorn -- essays on Greatest Rock 'n'Roll movies, published earlier this year. (Stardust and That'll Be the Day get the thumbs-up from memory).
Wild Style is my favourite, I think, Babylon not bad; Quadrophenia (for obvious choice), and The Harder they Come (if that counts) (Almost Famous the worst turkey ever). Garry M's no.1 in the book is Privilege from 1967
all best, Ian

My Favorite: That Thing You Do!

Answer to question: TWBTD

also, I just rented Get Him to the Greek, and that was effing hilarious.

-tricia
eenie meenie records

-

I'd have to say Slade in Flame! No contest, and they actually don't do too badly with the acting. "I'm not a fish finger" is a great quote.
Stardust is good if only to have Peter Duncan from Blue Peter in his pants having a food fight with Keith Moon, and That'll Be the Day I find a bit dull.
Stardust is good. But so is Flame, made at the same time and set in the same period.
John

-

hey dude
I always love reading your emails, never more so when you revealed yourself as a huge Numan fan - as Numanoids go, I'm a fairly casual fan, only seen him in concert 64 times. But still - a wizard, a true star.

Have to chime in on the rock movie debate - have you ever seen 1980 cult classic Times Square? The mayor's daughter gangs up with a runaway on the streets of NY, form a punk group? If you have NOT, I will send you a DVD TODAY, since I always have a few spares for occasions such as this.

keep up the great work. Charlie.

-

My choice:

Roadie [IMDB link]

This is a proper trashy B-movie with excellent appearances from Roy Orbison, Blondie and Alice Cooper to name a few!
x
Jackie