AC/DC changes stance, releases entire catalog through iTunes

LOS ANGELES - AC/DC, the Australian hard rock band whose heavy metal thunder has never been available for legal download, has stepped into the 21st century and released its music through iTunes, the band announced Monday.

After years of arguing that iTunes was, in the words of singer Brian Johnson, “going to kill music if they’re not careful,” the band reached a deal with the company to sell its entire catalog - 16 studio albums, four live albums and three compilations.

Until Monday, AC/DC was one of the last high-profile holdouts from the digital music marketplace. It had outlasted the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, all of which jumped into the realm long after much of the population had accepted the downloading future. Only two artists remain steadfast: Garth Brooks and Kid Rock, neither of whom offer downloadable versions their back catalog, but Rock recently broke ranks and is selling his new album “Rebel Soul” via iTunes.

Angus Young, AC/DC’s lead guitarist, had long argued against hawking the band’s music via any digital service. He didn’t like the idea of allowing for individual song downloads - submitting that the group’s albums were designed to be listened to from beginning to end.

He’s since changed his mind. Each of the group’s songs - “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Highway to Hell,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” and “Thunderstruck” among them - is available individually for $1.29. Albums are priced at $9.99.