Ozzy Osbourne Blames Poor Album Sales On Illegal Downloading
Sounds like unlike Trent Reznor, Ozzy Osbourne did not have an OiNK account. Osbourne is complaining that he is “suffering terribly” from the effects of illegal downloading. The Ozz man tells Australia’s Herald Sun that sales of his newest release Black Rain have lagged because of Web piracy, forcing him to perform ninety concerts this year — a career high for the fifty-eight-year-old singer. “If they don’t find something to stop [illegal downloading], people won’t be able to make records. There won’t be any new bands. How are they going to survive?” he asked. (We watched The Osbournes and believe that family could probably survive in a slightly smaller mansion, but point taken).
As for the lagging sales of Black Rain — the first record Ozzy has written and recorded sober — maybe the album isn’t selling because, well, it’s not that great. Or maybe it’s because the album’s single was locked out by rigid radio playlists and there’s no outlet for music videos these days. “I mean, I ain’t getting any younger,” he says of his live gigs. “Sharon says to me ‘Just stand there’. I can’t just fucking stand there! I’m a moving target. People would aim their can of beer at my head!” Stay strong and keep on playing those concerts, Ozzy. They’re keeping our streets safer.