Cyrus Langhorne
A water company has struck music mogul Jay Z weeks after he referenced water being free in defense of his popular Tidal streaming service.
In an open letter this week, Denver Water representative Steve Snyder lashed out at Hov.
“First of all: Big fan! I’ve listened to your music for years; I’ve admired how you’ve become much more than an entertainer, and you have perhaps the coolest line I’ve ever heard, “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man.” But recently, you made a comparison about water and music. And since water is my business, I have to say, “Stick to your own business, man!” I get what you are saying. Artists should be paid for the music they create. But to say that “water is free while music is $6″ isn’t exactly true.” (Denver Water Blog)
Denver Water also compared Jay’s music catalog to the cost of water.
“Your last album, “Magna Carta Holy Grail,” sold 528,000 copies in its first week on the market. At $6 each, that’s more than $3 million. You could buy 1 billion gallons of water for that, enough to fill 1,600 olympic-sized swimming pools. Your summer home has enough room for those, right?” (Denver Water Blog)
Back in March, Jay made his now-infamous remarks about the value of water.
“People are not respecting the music, and devaluing what it really means,” Jay Z told Billboard. “People really feel like music is free, but will pay $6 for water. You can drink water free out of the tap and it’s good water. But they’re okay paying for it. It’s just the mindset right now.” (Billboard)
This week, Jay suffered some criticism for allegedly having a largely Caucasian-employed Tidal staff.
On the surface, this seems like something to celebrate. Progress and stuff, right? Problem is, Jay played the race card a few weeks ago, when he called out the black community for not backing his company… the way it supports Apple, Nike and Google.
As a result … the Internet has its knives out, making comments like:
– “Jay tried to guilt trip us … but his staff are all white”
– “Jay does a ‘Pro-Black’ freestyle but then releases a picture of #Tidal’s all White staff.”
– “Those who complain of no blacks in white owned institutions. Well here u go Jay Z OWNS TIDAL. U going to protest?”
-“Jay ain’t hiring u n***as” (TMZ)
this dude is on point though. If music has a cost why wouldnt water have a cost?
Point is, water is SUPPOSED TO BE FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!
it is as long as you get it dirty from a river or some other source. you want it clean then itll cost ya
Water is free but how you get it isn’t. Tap water cost lots of money. you have to pay staff to monitor it, put a filter system and maintain it, hire security to make sure nobody is poisoning it. The filter system cost lots of money. Your tax dollars is what allows it to get to your house. In other words, water isn’t free. you think you are not paying but you are. Many people have water bills.
Water is an essential part of life. A must have for survival. Now you cant even collect rain water on your own property nor can you just go down to the river and grab buckets or run your own pipes and filtration system. IMO, the water debate is far more serious than the music one.
I concur!!!!!!!!
in what state do you live in which you cant collect rain water?
I live in NY. And if you google you will find many an instance of local government nation and worldwide stepping in and not allowing, even sending people to jail. You “technically” have the right HOWEVER you have to file for permits and rights etc BUT often if it interferes with anything the government is doing they will deny or revoke or simply keep postponing. If you are collecting rainwater in Barrels or what have you then you don’t need the city water delivered to water your lawn, wash your clothes, car or bath etc. That means less cash for them and less dependance. By going off the grid you can do major damage to those in power. #facts
damn i didnt know that cuz here in cali we have been in a drought so they encourage people to do that but it doesnt rain that much
not only is it supposed to be free but guess what youngans?,,it used to be,,till they they made it a racket like everything else,,but hey its da American way
on another note didn’t hov help bring water to some parts of Africa?,,,tell da water exec to GTFOH
Music is created water is a part of the earth politicians took it from the people and put a price tag on it what the fuck this dude talking about
what?