Why isn't aerosmith on iTunes?

Answer 1

The reason Tool doesn't allow iTunes (or any other digital music distributor) to sell their music has little to do with "illegal file sharing" or that they're simply "holding out like Metallica." True, they do put a lot of work into the physical packaging and presentation of their albums, and thus they prefer that consumers get the full artistic experience by purchasing the artwork along with the music. However, that's only half of the reason.

I believe that Tool probably WOULD allow their albums to be sold digitally if iTunes would allow them to sell them ONLY in their entirety... that is, people would NOT be able to download individual tracks. Rumor has it that iTunes has refused to make such accommodations, so the band continues to avoid digital album sales. Not sure if this is really true, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

If you know anything about Tool, you recognize their songs are often very lengthy (like 8+ minutes a piece) and frequently blend into one another. They're one of the few bands that truly carries on the tradition of the "concept album," and to enable people to pick and choose individual tracks from any of their albums would be to condone the bastardization of that tradition. Their albums are not simply collections of one-off pop songs. They are much more akin to epic, classical compositions with many different movements that build on, and borrow from one another to form a single cohesive work. They're meant to be experienced as a whole.

This is actually NOT so much the case for Maynard James Keenan's other bands (A Perfect Circle and Puscifer), whose albums ARE available for digital purchase on iTunes etc. I guess maybe because these bands are more song-oriented he felt it wasn't degrading the art to make them available digitally.

Not to mention, Tool have always made a conscious effort to present themselves as something of an enigma. Just listen to any interview they've ever given and it will become obvious that they're not interested in philosophical conversation or revealing much about what truly inspires them. They basically adhere to sarcasm and nonsensical comments. Thus, I wouldn't be surprised if they're boycotting iTunes "just because," so they can inspire people like you to go on the internet and hypothesize about the reasons why.

Answer 2

it is all of their songs and albums are on there Not true... None of their albums from the 70's (Get Your Wings, Toys in the Attick, Rocks, Draw the Line) are on Itunes. It's too bad because 70's era Aerosmith is far and away their best music.

Answer 3

The iTunes store licenses the music it provides from the record companies. If iTunes does not have a deal to distribute the music of certain bands their music will not be available from iTunes. The licensing deals vary from country to country so what is available in one country may not be available elsewhere.

Answer 4

Answer 1: iTunes does take a 35% cut in any download from them.

It would be reasonable for any artist to keep their hard-crafted product off the digital shelves of a company taking such a massive cut. Although this is just speculation into their reasons.

Answer 2:

Tool doesn't release digitaly because of a lawsuit with their label. Tool is committed to one more album release ( of a required 4). Said record label would be due a portion of these sales. Seeing as Tool was in a long legal battle with Volcano records, they are reluctant to up their profits. They will probably be more open with their music once they have a new label.

Answer 5

They may not have been published yet onto Itunes or they were never on Itunes to begin with. Ok so maybe they arent allowed to put certain songs on there.