Old Man Neil Young announced on Facebook Wednesday that he’s had it up to here with his music being on streaming services, and soon you won’t be able to hear “Heart of Gold” unless you turn on classic rock radio every three seconds. In his lovably crusty way, Young wrote, “Streaming has ended for me. I hope this is ok for my fans.” It’s not over money — “although my share…was dramatically reduced by bad deals made without my consent” — but the sound quality, which he called “the worst [in] the history of broadcasting or any other form of distribution.”
He later added:
I was there.
AM radio kicked streaming’s ass.
Analog Cassettes and 8 tracks also kicked streaming’s ass,
and absolutely rocked compared to streaming.Streaming sucks. Streaming is the worst audio in history.
If you want it, you got it. It’s here to stay.
Your choice.
Copy my songs if you want to. That’s free.
Your choice.
All my music, my life’s work, is what I am preserving the way I want it to be.
It’s already started. My music is being removed from all streaming services. It’s not good enough to sell or rent.
Make streaming sound good and I will be back. (Via)
Young sounds like James Murphy in “Losing My Edge,” but about cassettes being better than Spotify. It’s hard to argue with him — he’s Neil F*cking Young, after all — so I won’t. Instead, I’ll be sad that “I’m the Ocean” will no longer be a click away. Now I have to go ALL THE WAY to the other room to grab my copy of Mirror Ball… on vinyl. I guess he knows what he’s talking about.
(Via Neil Young/Facebook)
