This is fun. The boss of American independent rock label Victory Records Tony Brummel has reportedly sent a strongly worded email to Apple exec Alex Luke after failing to reach an agreement with the computer firm to sell his artists' music via the iTunes Music Store. He accuses Apple of being "anti-entrepreneurial, anti-creative and anti-America" in the way it runs its download platform, and predicts that the music buying public will soon learn that iTunes is bad news for music fans.
US website HitsDailyDouble has a copy of the email which was probably written as much for public consumption as for that of Apple chiefs. It reads: "The inflexibility on your side is mind boggling. This is art, if you have not forgotten. Do you think Michelangelo punched in and out when he painted the Sistine Chapel? Music consumers would look at your tactics as worse than those employed by the major record companies. I am surprised that Apple operates in such an authoritarian manner when its public image is that of a company run by creative types."
He continued: "This "take it or leave it" stance is anti-entrepreneurial, anti-creative and anti-American. My staff and my artists are asked every day why Victory's content is not on iTunes. When the explanation is given, people understand why we are not in business together. In fact, it bothers them. The power of word of mouth is undeniable, especially in the age of the internet. It may take awhile to resonate but when it does, people typically react accordingly. I passed an olive branch. Instead of embracing it, you whack me in the face with it. This is bad business and sets a very unfortunate precedent. iTunes is not providing the public the alternative that it claims to be."
Other senior execs in both the independent and major label sector might not express their concerns quite so emotively, but Brummel is not alone in expressing such views about the iTunes model and the effect it will have on the music industry if Apple continues to be so dominant in the digital music space.