The Who’s Pete Townsend asked Apple to make iTunes a more artist-friendly environment. In a speech last night honoring the late DJ John Peel, Townsend called on Apple to nurture artists the way a traditional record company might have done in the past. During the speech, Townsend seemed to be brainstorming a list of features iTunes could implement. The BBC reports he “posited the idea of a place on iTunes where artists could share their music ‘like a local radio station,'” or “[provide] free computers and advice to the 500 artists it feels merited it most.” The best part of his speech, however, is when he goes on to say “Is there really any good reason why, just because iTunes exists in the wild west internet land of Facebook and Twitter, it can’t provide some aspect of these services to the artists whose work it bleeds like a digital vampire Northern Rock for its enormous commission?” Maybe, if he’s not too busy windmilling power chords, smashing guitars, or selling songs to CSI, Townsend could to take a trip to Cupertino and see if Apple’s hiring.
This gives me goosebumps every time. Start at 6:40, if you’re pressed for time.
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