Metallica releases 30 years of music on Spotify

Digital holdouts agree to stream songs

CBC News

Posted: Dec 6, 2012 4:33 PM ET

Last Updated: Dec 6, 2012 4:32 PM ET

James Hetfield, left, and Kirk Hammett of Metallica are shown performing Oct. 27, 2012. Metallica has released its music on Spotify. (Barry Brecheisen/Invision/Associated Press)

Metallica is bringing its all-out assault to Spotify, agreeing to release 30 years of its recordings on the digital service.

Spotify announced the move Thursday during a presentation to debut new features in New York.

Metallica had previously declined to stream its music. Fans can now access the entire back catalogue of the band's recordings.

The move is significant for the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.

Metallica was among several acts who sued Napster in 2000, eventually forcing a settlement that required Napster to evolve into a pay-for-use service that became something of a model for today's streaming companies.

Drummer Lars Ulrich says in a news release the band has waited a long time to see how the music streaming service model would evolve and is "beyond psyched to unleash our music through" Spotify.

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