http://www.huffingtonpost...aily+Brief

You can download Bon Jovi songs on iTunes, but don't expect the band to be too happy about it.

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi, whose band soared to prominence with its 1986 album Slippery When Wet, reminisced in the Sunday Times Magazine about his days as a kid in New Jersey, falling in love with music -- and ripped Apple CEO Steve Jobs for taking that opportunity away from a new generation of listeners.

"Kids today have missed the whole experience of putting the headphones on, turning it up to 10, holding the jacket, closing their eyes and getting lost in an album; and the beauty of taking your allowance money and making a decision based on the jacket, not knowing what the record sounded like, and looking at a couple of still pictures and imagining it," he said (via MSN), thinking back to his record buying days. Then came the less fanciful: the blame.

"God, it was a magical, magical time. I hate to sound like an old man now, but I am, and you mark my words, in a generation from now people are going to say: 'What happened?' Steve Jobs is personally responsible for killing the music business."

Interestingly, his criticism isn't about illegal downloading or any skewed road to success; instead, Bon Jovi is complaining about the actual experience of listening to music, which he thinks has been downgraded by iTunes downloads and iPods.

Apple's iTunes Store has become the number one music vendor in the country; on February 24th, it sold its 10 billionth song download. Of course, most downloads come in single song form, not a full album, and album art work certainly is less prominent. For his part, the rocker's band has released special editions of albums with bonus songs on the service (such as 2009's The Circle), though that may be in order to keep up with the times, not so much a celebration of online downloading.

Discuss...

Like he said himself, he sounds like an old man.

Things change. 50 years ago, people would sit around the radio and had that experience. I'm sure Mr. Jovi doesn't do that any more.

I love it that we have itunes and can exprience much more different artist than in the 80's.

Things do change...does that mean there's no remaining unchanging standards anymore...that can pass down from generation to generation?

.

I get Jon's point, but to blame Steve Jobs and Apple for the death of the music business is a little extreme. For a real music lover, they will not solely depend on downloads, ipods and 4 minute singles. They will seek out an album and/or artist. They will then buy a cd, lp, or download the entire album.

funkyandy said:

Things do change...does that mean there's no remaining unchanging standards anymore...that can pass down from generation to generation?

.

of course not, but in this case, it's the choice of the consumer.

Steve Jobs doesn't force people to download and not to but cd's any more...it's the choice of the consumer.

robertlove said:

funkyandy said:

Things do change...does that mean there's no remaining unchanging standards anymore...that can pass down from generation to generation?

.

of course not, but in this case, it's the choice of the consumer.

Steve Jobs doesn't force people to download and not to but cd's any more...it's the choice of the consumer.

Very true. I think he is blaming the technology/medium vs. Steve Jobs. However, we now live in a "singles" driven society. It's no longer about the story/album anymore. Bon Jovi needs to realize that and restructure his marketing technique.

For anything, Steve Jobs is THE only reason why the music industry isn't dead already.

Before iTunes came along, a whole lot of people were siting in front of their desktop computers with hi-speed internet accesss to download as much music as they used to damn well please without paying for jackshit, never mind the lawsuits that the RIAA were filing. Along some people were still pirating in the 2000's, at least Steve Jobs & iTunes helped bring plenty of balance within the industry.

and the beauty of taking your allowance money and making a decision based on the jacket, not knowing what the record sounded like, and looking at a couple of still pictures and imagining it

Oh yes Jon... too bad you can't sell albums based on name and albumcover anymore!

daPrettyman said:

I get Jon's point, but to blame Steve Jobs and Apple for the death of the music business is a little extreme. For a real music lover, they will not solely depend on downloads, ipods and 4 minute singles. They will seek out an album and/or artist. They will then buy a cd, lp, or download the entire album.

"Cry Me A River".

My mother said, if it wasn't for the invention of the phonograph and records people would still be buying sheetmusic and learing how to play an instument and the music themselves.

She blames Thomas Alva Edison.

Bon Jovi is talking out his ass. He and his bandmates are one of the reasons why musicianship and music in general has taken a nose dive, with their no playin' mediocre asses.

This obession with Apple / Mr. Jobs is amazing. For all the bitch, crying, and moaning no one as of yet come up with a model to compete with Apple -in terms of distribution, hardware, or software, nobody. Last time I checked, when you purchase an album from iTunes, artwork and liner notes come with the purchase. You can get "just as lost" looking at the pictures and reading the liner notes on your desktop, notebook, or iPad . . . you can print it out. So, WTF is he cryin' about?

Is Bon Jovi blaming the CD for making the artwork and liner notes so microscopic many stopped being bothered to look or read album jackets / booklets? Apple / Jobs haven't killed the music business the thugs and theives Bon Jovi works for have and all by their lonesome.

TD3 said:

"Cry Me A River".

My mother said, if it wasn't for the invention of the phonograph and records people would still be buying sheetmusic and learing how to play an instument and the music themselves.

She blames Thomas Alva Edison.

Bon Jovi is talking out his ass. He and his bandmates are one of the reasons why musicianship and music in general has taken a nose dive, with their no playin' mediocre asses.

This obession with Apple / Mr. Jobs is amazing. For all the bitch, crying, and moaning no one as of yet come up with a model to compete with Apple -in terms of distribution, hardware, or software, nobody. Last time I checked, when you purchase an album from iTunes, artwork and liner notes come with the purchase. You can get "just as lost" looking at the pictures and reading the liner notes on your desktop, notebook, or iPad . . . you can print it out. So, WTF is he cryin' about?

Is Bon Jovi blaming the CD for making the artwork and liner notes so microscopic many stopped being bothered to look or read album jackets / booklets? Apple / Jobs haven't killed the music business the thugs and theives Bon Jovi works for have and all by their lonesome.

I agree.

And whether from iTunes or Amazon, tablet devices are able to recreate covers, liner notes and artwork perfectly. You should be able to hold it while laying on your bed or couch in the same exact way you held a vinyl jacket sleeve.

I think it's just bitching for the sake of bitching. Blaming technology for destroying childhoods. Truth is, everyone has their own childhoods that involve technology, styles fads of the day. You cannot take that with you and you cannot wish things stay the same for the sake of your own personal nostalgia.

Already a thread here http://prince.org/msg/8/354714

dupe