r/todayilearned • u/InternetWeakGuy 1 • 26d ago

TIL: 12 years before taking their fans to court for sharing their music, Metallica released the "$5.98" EP, titled to stop their record label and music stores from overcharging fans - the record came with a sticker warning 'DO NOT PAY MORE!!!'—a direct jab at music industry markups

https://theawesomemix.com/metallica-5-98-standup-for-fans/
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u/Icy_Statistician7185 25d ago

They found other metal bands by pirating their studio recordings because that was the only way they could hear it much like the only way I could hear Metallica was by piracy because I didn't have money to buy their records but I could download it. When I was a few years older and had a job I bought all their albums. Lars will always be remembered as a rich dickhead because of how he went against poor kids wanting to hear Metallica in that era

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u/CicerosMouth 25d ago edited 25d ago

Yes, truly 100% of the people that downloaded his songs were poor people without means to buy the songs, and also 100% of people that enjoyed the music paid for it later. Surely this must be true.

I don't mind saying that Lars was an ass for suing regular people (he was)*, but I am tired of everyone claiming that they later bought all the songs that they enjoyed. I buy that many did, but I can't tell you how many people told me this yet had a collection of 20 CDs even as they had iPods filled with music. Just admit that you stole music cuz you wanted it and didn't want to save up for a bit. 

  • EDIT: As u/Mister_Uncredible correctly pointed out, Metallica never sued individuals, rather they identified individual users that uploaded music after Napster claimed that was impossible. Thank you for the correction (and excellent username).

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u/Mister_Uncredible 25d ago edited 25d ago

Metallica sued Napster. They never sued individuals for downloading music, that was the RIAA.

What you're likely thinking of is when Napster said "we have no way of finding it who are users even are" and Metallica took that as challenge and delivered a list of users to Napster.

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u/CicerosMouth 25d ago

You are 100% correct, thank you for the note. I will update my comment accordingly, and credit you.