Metallica Now Selling Single-Track Downloads on LiveMetallica.com

For the better part of five years, Metallica has been running a nifty operation on LiveMetallica.com: high-quality audio recordings of the band's concerts, ranging from the early eighties all the way to the thrash-meisters' current tour. Until recently, though, users didn't have the option of buying single songs; you either ponied up the $9.95 for the whole recording or went without. Seems like they've learned a thing or three from their recent embrace with iTunes, because LiveMetallica.com just announced that you can download any single track you'd like at the standard 99-cent price-point.

Whole concerts will remain at $9.95 for MP3s, or $12.95 for super-high-quality FLAC files. There are more than 250 show recordings available for purchase right now, and as is the nature of live music, none of the shows' setlists are identical. And if you need convincing, there's plenty of free downloads under the helpfully-titled "free downloads" section of the show catalogue.

"This is the next logical step in a process that began back in 1991 when we first implemented the 'Taper Section' at our shows, where our fans were encouraged to bring in their own gear to record the show, and then take home their very own 'bootleg' of the concert they had just seen," explains drummer Lars Ulrich in the website's mission statement. "This technology will enable fans to get the best possible recording of the show, without having to hold a microphone in the air for the entire night!"

So, rather than make another obvious joke at Ulrichs' expense, we'll just say thanks. Oh, master of puppets, how you pull our strings.

Related links:

Review: Metallica: Death Magnetic

News: Metallica to Release Discography as iTunes Box Set

LiveMetallica.com

Got a news tip for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.