AC/DC has reinforced its “no downloads” policy by ordering the removal of their back-catalogue from Australian down service BigPond Music.
BigPond was selling AC/DC downloads without authorisation from the band. AC/DC has a blanket policy worldwide - no downloads.BigPond had 16 titles on sale for $16.50 each. Some of the titles were even available in the non-DRM (digital rights management) format of MP3.
Both Angus Young and Brian Johnson have talked about the AC/DC “no downloads” policy in recent weeks since the released of the Black Ice album. The policy was in place for all download services worldwide.
Ironically, that policy slipped through the cracks in the bands own country, Australia.
Australia is also playing havoc with AC/DC’s exclusive deal with Wal-Mart for the sales of the ‘Black Ice’ album.
With the Australian dollar dropping below US 70c, independent retailers have been given a loop-hole to buy the album from Australia and by-pass Sony-BMG in the United States.
Not only have retailers been able to stock up on the Australian pressing, because of the Aussie dollar, they can buy it cheaper in Australia than Wal-Mart was getting it for from America. Even with freight charges, the indie stores in the USA can sell it for cheaper than Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart purchased in advance 2.5 million copies of Black Ice and is making around $4 for every CD sold. At $11.88, it is almost $2 more expensive than general chart product that the chain sells.
