AC/DC guitarist Angus Young explains it very simply in his high voltage comments on a Telegraph story about the state of the music industry:
“We don’t make singles, we make albums.”
Well that’s one view, I suppose. I’d love to have been a fly on the wall during that interview. What else did he have to say?
“If we were on iTunes, we know a certain percentage of people would only download two or three songs from the album – and we don’t think that represents us musically.”
Well Angus, some might suggest that you should keep a stiff upper lip and think about who made who: how did you get where you are today?
In the article, Angus points out that back-of-envelope calculations at the beginning of AC/DC’s career showed that it would be more sensible — and more profitable — to sell albums rather than singles.
But things have changed, leaving the music business thunderstruck. Now that people buy more individual songs, perhaps a better option would be to simply churn out lots and lots of songs. Perhaps the album is dead, but the song isn’t. Moneytalks.
With a flick of the switch, AC/DC can skate over the black ice of destiny and find their way back to black. This is a hell or high water moment for them. They’ve got to get back in business.
I’ll give it up now.
Giles Turnbull is a freelance writer in England. He also writes for the Press Association and The Morning News. You can find out more at his website, and follow him on Twitter @gilest.
