Ongoing History Daily: The first legal download, part 2

July 25, 2024 Alan Cross 0 Comments 0 min read

Last time, we covered how Geffen Records convinced the management of Aerosmith to try an experiment with this new thing called “the internet.” Would it be possible to distribute a digital version of a song called “Head First” online?

Because the internet was so new, no label or band had ever done such a thing. And because there were no websites, they had to arrange this digital download through CompuServe, one of the few available for people to access the internet.

On June 27, 1994, the song was posted—a full .wav file—for a free download. With the old dial-up modems of the day, it took FOREVER just to download this one song. It worked and got a lot of press at the time.

Entertainment Weekly wrote “Maybe someday, we’ll pay to download Aerosmith.” Still more next time.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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