The four horsemen are back to the attention of p2p community. In a recent interview they revealed the new approach now with the next album which promises "everything in terms of possibilities with the Internet " for the fans.
They also said that the idea came tot them "observing Radiohead and Trent Reznor."
2000 was a very “loud” year in anti-file-sharing voicing due to Metallica’s stand against it. After finding out that a demo of its song "I Disappear," which they were planning to release on Mission: Impossible II soundtrack, was being aired on radio, the band began the chase. They discovered not only that the song was available on Napster but also that the band’s entire catalogue was available as well. What followed established Metallica as one of the most vocal critics of file-sharing but it also cost it many devoted fans (who just didn’t understand the famous band’s determination of not letting some potential money go) as the band sued Napster for copyright infringement.
The story ended in 2001 with Napster agreeing to identify and block access to files that artists do make available.
With the digital era taking over, views might have changed and in a recent interview with Rolling Stone at a "Record Store Day," an event whose purpose is to celebrate physical music retailers, Metallica seemed ready than ever to consider selling digital music:
RS: You were one of the first artists to sue over copyright infringement and voice concerns over aspects of downloading. Eight years later, with bands like Radiohead embracing the Net and yet charting, how has your stance changed, if at all?
M:We have FLACs and MP3s for sale. It was never about downloading per se. We have the Vault where you can download shows from twenty years ago for free, full-on and it’s been there for years. You can download recent shows days after they happen for cost. Back in the day there was a much bigger question about "on whose terms?" We said, "Wait a minute, it should be about the artist." Then all hell broke loose and we sat on the sidelines for a while. We’ve always been fiercely independent and controlling; sometimes to a fault. That’s why we exist and why all these people show up.
Next Metallica emphasized its ever actual focus on "independence" which, it says, motivated its decision to sue Napster eight years ago as it was "never about downloading per se". Further on, James & Co. revealed that their latest album, (expected later this year) is the last it has under contract with Warner Records. Then the band hinted at future plans that include "… looking at how we can embrace everything."
"We want to be as free a players as possible," they went on in the interview."We’ve been observing Radiohead and Trent Reznor and in twenty-seven years or however long it takes for the next record, we’ll be looking forward to everything in terms of possibilities with the Internet."
Given that record companies and retailers such as Apple are cutting quite a share from the profits (the artists only get 10 cents on the dollar for each song or album sold) it’s unsurprisingly that an approach in the way of Radiohead or Trent Reznor is preferable. After all, it’s just…fight fire with fire, right?
Looking forward to Metallica’s future say in this but especially to its upcoming album, here’s "One", the first video from those who once used to Ride the Lightening :
