Jay-Z vs Record Stores

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Local record store owners aren't pleased that "Watch the Throne", the joint album from Jay-Z and Kanye West, debuts on iTunes today. Why not? Because the distribution deal forbids indie shops from selling the album until August 22nd. Store owners say they're being forced to play on an uneven field, but Jay-Z says it's not really their call. "We made this album and it took us eight months," he told a Hot 97 DJ. "We should be able to release it the way we like, without everybody being up in arms." [NYT]