As reported in various news sources today, Pink Floyd have won (what appears to be 'the first stage') of an ongoing legal battle with EMI Records preventing them to offer individual tracks for digital download.

From Aunty's news page :-

"Pink Floyd tracks may be removed from digital music services like iTunes after a High Court ruling.

Their latest record deal, signed with EMI before legal downloads came along, said individual songs must not be sold without the band's permission."

It would appear that their artistic integrity is a strong reason behind this move as the group would prefer (and want) tracks to be sold 'as a whole' - in the way that they were intended to be heard.

The full story is here :-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8561963.stm

Thats a quick decision, the case only started in court on Tuesday and an earlier report on the BBC said it would be a long drawn out hearing.

I don't think many artists will be following Floyd's lead, most will be happy to sell individual tracks. Amazon were offering "Animals" for £3 as a download not long back so I don't think it's about money with them, more like artistic integrity as stated.

8-)  Its common sense for me

Floyd's tracks ?  I don't understans what it could be ...   

:)

I must admit I don't own anything legal for Pink Floyd (yes yes, be angry at me  ;)) , but I really enjoy there statement about singles, wich I also don't like ... There lawsuit must have been long standing principles wich aren't that bad if you ask me.  :)

Maybe they feel some of their albums need to be listened to from beginning to end and if you pick a track from the middle, it will be taken out of context from the whole story.  Or maybe i'm nuts.
:D :D :D

Indeed, the main thrust of the argument from the Pink Floyd camp would most certainly appear to be in the form of artist control and how their recorded music is sold.

"Earlier this week, Robert Howe QC, appearing for the group, said the band's deal with EMI stipulated that their "seamless" albums should not be split up and that they "wanted to retain artistic control"."

And their argument being that EMI has subsequently broken this agreement, albeit being made in the '70's, long before digital content being sold.

I don"t know why, but this reminds me of listening to Dark Side of the Moon in my friends Van in 1974 on 8-Track - they split The Great Gig in the Sky right in the middle - faded it in & out too!!!
No respect!!! ;D :D ;D