Neil Young Pulling Music Off Streaming Services

But not because of royalties
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 15, 2015 6:51 PM CDT
Neil Young Pulling Music Off Streaming Services
Neil Young sits for a photograph in Vancouver last year.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

Neil Young says he's yanking his entire music catalog off streaming services—because of sound quality, not royalties, reports Rolling Stone. "Streaming has ended for me," he wrote on Facebook. "I don't need my music to be devalued by the worst quality in the history of broadcasting or any other form of distribution. I don't feel right allowing this to be sold to my fans. It's bad for my music." In a second post, he adds that AM radio and 8-tracks were better. "Streaming sucks." However, Young says he'd revisit the issue if and when quality improves. The singer previously has championed high-resolution audio through his company Pono, which sells a $400 player that hasn't exactly wowed the critics.

Today's decision isn't going over well in all corners:

  • Gizmodo: "Neil Young Continues His Crusade Against Reason by Screwing His Fans"
  • AV Club: "Streaming services cannot capture glory of Neil Young music, says Neil Young"
  • Engadget: "Neil Young says his music is too good for streaming services"
(More Neil Young stories.)

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