from a link off of www.fark.com

KISS - SIMMONS: 'THE INTERNET KILLED MUSIC'

KISS star GENE SIMMONS has blamed internet downloads for destroying the music industry - insisting there will never be any more legendary bands like THE BEATLES. The 58-year-old rocker is convinced illegal downloading has forced record labels to conform to a new way of working that will eventually put them all out of business. Simmons, who is known for his entrepreneurial skills, insists there is now less opportunity for talented new bands to find recognition because the internet is swamped with wannabes. He says, "The very same people that love the music the most have slit its throat and they're surprised it's dying. 'How come my new band can't get a shot?' 'Because you killed it, bitch.' "Every day college kids who probably love music more than anybody are the same people slashing the record industry's throat by file sharing and downloading. It's the saddest thing for new bands. Doesn't affect me or Kiss. We can continue to play stadiums and do very well, and we release DVDs. "But there isn't a chance for a new band to become the next Beatles or Kiss because there isn't the infrastructure to do it."

I guess he doesn't blame poor records like his solo album "ASSHOLE" or the last KISS record?

One observation I've made is that for 30 years now, not a huge lot has changed when it comes to music. Bands are using the same sort of musical instruments, there's never any truly unique music anymore. A mainstream hit from today doesn't sound a lot different to one from the 70s or 80s IMO. What's been done that hasn't been done 100 times before and done a lot better? I think that's the problem. Unlike the early days of Rock n roll, there are no new sounds now. That's probably what's having a negative effect, if indeed things are as bad as what Simmonds says.

Much as would never agree with Gene on anything....he's correct.

The net makes it easier to obtain and burn albums, and CD sales have dwindled.

Think about it, when's the last time you heard of an artist selling 30 million records like "Thriller" did?

Never gunna happen again.

Gene's party correct, but it's one of a number of factors that has led to the general decline of the music industry. I just don't think music is as progressive or inventive anymore, we seemed to have reached the limits of new discovery and just keep going round, and round, and round...

It was always going to happen sooner or later, and some of the crap I hear on Radio 1 these days just defies belief....:rant:

I don't entirely agree with Gene's assesment! we all know Gene could give a crap less about the music...it's all about merchandising KISS crap with him!

Okay...Here's My take on why music sales are dwindling...Most music these days, compared to those of the 80s and Prior decades...in a word...SUCK!!

If the record companies would lower the prices of CDs or make them available online to BUY then the internet wouldn't be going downhill.
Gene Simmons is a jerk anyway.

If the record companies would lower the prices of CDs or make them available online to BUY then the internet wouldn't be going downhill.
Gene Simmons is a jerk anyway.

May want to reword that...it's not the internet going downhill, it's record sales, and yes, lowering the price would help but it's not the "End-all" to the problem.

Most major record labels are part of the RIAA, and with the recent actions imposed by the RIAA, many people could give two shits less about the CEO's of these labels. Henceforth the Label suffers at the expense of these CEO's, and ultimately the bands/artists.

Think about it, when's the last time you heard of an artist selling 30 million records like "Thriller" did?

Never gunna happen again.

Think about it this way, When's the last time an album (like Thriller) had 8 or 9 LEGIT singles on it?

Make better music, people will buy it.


Funny how Gene doesn't mention that the rate of CD sales dropping is dwarfed by the growth of online sales of either singles, or complete albums. Why pay 20 bucks for a cd, when you can get the entire thing at I-tunes for 9 bucks?

The music industry hasn't adapted to the times, but they are still making money. Gene needs to stop pissing and moaning about the internet loosing money for him, and oh, I don't know, put out a record that people would actually PURCHASE.

Think about it this way, When's the last time an album (like Thriller) had 8 or 9 LEGIT singles on it?
Make better music, people will buy it.
Funny how Gene doesn't mention that the rate of CD sales dropping is dwarfed by the growth of online sales of either singles, or complete albums. Why pay 20 bucks for a cd, when you can get the entire thing at I-tunes for 9 bucks?
The music industry hasn't adapted to the times, but they are still making money. Gene needs to stop pissing and moaning about the internet loosing money for him, and oh, I don't know, put out a record that people would actually PURCHASE.
Okay, I'll use another example. Maiden in the 80's sold millions. Their last two albuims were every bit as good as their albums in the 80's. Didn't sell millions.

There ARE good bands and good albums out there Jasper, just because you don't hear them on the wasteland we call radio doesn't mean no one's making them.

I could give you a laundry list of great albums made in the last 10 years, they're not selling like they used to. Why? Because it's alot easier and cheaper for kids to download them for free and burn them.

Why pay 9 bucks for an album on I-tunes when you can get it off a bit torrent site for nada?

A lot of radio stations don't play a lot of the bands we listen to because they think they won't sell. Well, d'uh, they don't sell because they don't get the airplay they should from commercial radio. If you want to hear a lot of the bands, you have to either listen to college radio, internet radio or just download it or buy the album and put them on your iPod or whatever you listen to music.
I know a lot of radio station won't play new stuff from the 80s artists/bands anymore because they don't think they will sell. I've heard good stuff from Morrissey, Siouxsie Sioux, Midge Ure and other 80s bands/artists and they totally rock. I first heard a lot of this stuff on internet radio.

Could it also be , that today's generation is fickle, they change from artist to artist, A few years ago Eminem was huge, then the guy with the band aids Nelly, then 50 cent , Beyonce, it seems like these guys put out one or two cd's and a ccoupel years later their no existant.

Take a look at concert sales, top 10 are always packed with the baby boomer/gen xer . How many groups are still performing today to packed stadiums from the 60's 70' and 80's compared to the 90's and 00's. Who from the 90's onward will be selling out 50,000 seat stadiums in 10 years". (U2 is 80's) , ??

I think you have a good point there Cal. I'm not completely familiar with all the bands these days but every time a new one comes along I like, a few years later they've faded into oblivion. How many new artists these days hang around for years and years?