Bob Lefsetz writes:

Is Kid Rock selling a hundred thousand CDs a week because his album is not available on iTunes?

Last year, Jay-Z famously refused to sell his new album at iTunes because he thought it would break up the flow, that it needed to be heard as a whole. Despite being available digitally at Amazon, as a full album only, “American Gangster” debuted strongly and soon fell down the chart. Was this the lack of hit singles or the refusal to be on iTunes?

Conventional wisdom is iTunes makes up approximately 30% of overall sales. It’s certainly the largest music retailer in America. But, you don’t have to buy the whole album, you can purchase only the track(s) you want. Therefore, Katy Perry has a giant hit single and sells very few albums. But is that because people believe she’s only worth the single? That she’s not a career artist? Or could it be that Katy Perry appeals to a young demo that has only known MP3s/iTunes/P2P, and only wants the single? Would Katy Perry be better off if you could only buy her complete album? Or, to put it another way, is her audience smart enough to steal just what it wants, or if there’s only an album available, will people buy the album?

Read the rest here

My thoughts:

Personally, Rock and Roll Jesus isn’t my favorite Kid Rock album, but I think its success comes down to two age-old things:

1. Make a really good album.

2. Go out and tour, tour, and tour some more. Bring your message to the masses in every city and town on the planet.

Kid Rock has always been a master at the second item above.

If you go to see a Kid Rock show and don’t leave fully converted to fan status, you might want to have your hearing and vision checked pronto.

And if both of those items check out, I guess perhaps being a Kid Rock fan just isn’t on your list of things that are going to happen.

There’s always been a buzz about Kid Rock’s live show – and this year’s Rock and Roll Revival tour took that buzz to a new level.

It had been a LONG time since I had seen Rock in the live setting, and I was excited to see the Kid Rock show, turbocharged with special guest appearances by rap icon Rev. Run from Run DMC, J. Geils “Woofa Goofa” Peter Wolf, and in select markets, former Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts.

I caught the show-closing set from Rock and friends on the second day of Rock on the Range in Columbus, OH, and like every Kid Rock show I’d seen prior, Rock and crew delivered on all of the hype that had been heard leading up to showtime. Sure, you got the hits from Kid Rock, and also an education on rock and roll and rap, this time with a twist:

While Rock has been known to throw in a lick of musical pop culture, and sometimes even a full song, this time he brought along the real deal.

After missing out on the J. Geils reunion in 1999, it was great to see J. Geils frontman Peter Wolf, looking not a day over 1981, belting out several J. Geils classics backed by Rock’s band. A short time later, Rev. Run and Rock ran through everything you needed to know in 10 minutes or less about Run DMC.

A show like this proves that you don’t need smoke, fog, and lasers – sometimes all you need is an artist that still remembers what it means to play a SHOW. And it is important to for that artist to have a great band to help with the delivery of that rock and roll message. See related topics like Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters, and when they’re firing on all cylinders, Stone Temple Pilots.

Rock has rarely made a dud album – and I’m guessing he’ll continue to make great albums, and they’ll continue to sell well, regardless of where you’re buying them.

My closing argument on Kid Rock in recent years has always been the suggestion to buy Live Trucker, 70 minutes of live Kid Rock committed to digital wax. If you really want to know what Kid Rock is all about, Live Trucker is where it’s at.

And this track particularly sums up Kid Rock in 5 minutes or less.

Kid Rock – Son of Detroit (live)

I’ll leave you with this…

Kid Rock responds to Lefsetz:

link

I really believe its about a connection to the artist and the “lack of” that plays a big part in this. When I would hear a Bob Seger or Run DMC record as a kid, I really believed they WERE the songs, and that they were who they sang and wrote about. I think that connection, especially in pop music has been missing for sometime. Sh*t, I dont think kids even believe in half the rappers are who they claim to be anymore. On another note, the radio has f*cked so much of it up, for instance, that James Mcmurty song is a pop hit, but they know he wont suck thier d*ck so they say f*ck him and as a result kids lose out on hearing a great song and pop music suffers. Now obviously i dont suck d*ck either, but i know how to put my arm around em and make em feel good, maybe tickle thier balls a little if it means more people will hear my music. BUT NO D*CK SUCKING!! Programmers are not the f*cking stars, artists are, but if they would rather party with brittney or mariah rather than folks like me, thier missing one hell of a party!! I mean ,I wanna be friends with radio and have met some good folks in it, but overall they make it very difficult with the politics and bullsh*t, and the record companys share in that as well. (sh*t, sometimes us artists do too)

And this biggest thing is, you ll never beat word of mouth on a good product! And when people love something, theyll do whatever it takes to get it. Itunes is convienient, but so is Mcdonalds, but……. a lotta people still wait in line and make reservations to eat elsewhere!! Sometimes when you believe in yourself and your product, NO is the best answer. Thiers plenty of ways to have big sales without itunes (or conventional wisdom), i just proved it! (dont mean to toot my own horn but BEEP F*CKING BEEP!!!! haha) bottom line, lets bring some creativity back into this buisness and make it fun again,lifes too short, thats where im at with things.

and ps, Mellencamp has credability oozing out of his hit makin ass!!

hope your well.

ps (i know my typing and sh*t sux)

Relevant Links:

Kid Rock’s official website

Purchase Kid Rock – Rock and Roll Jesus from Amazon – CD

Purchase Kid Rock – Live Trucker from Amazon – CD