Metallica seem to have embraced the idea of digital music downloads now with the release of their dedicated iPhone application. The app is called Live Metallica and it costs $0.99. Once you have it installed on your iPhone you can stream remixed recordings of live Metallica shows from around the world. The latest show is provided for free and you can also access samples from their archive and then buy the ones you like directly through the app.

Music sales seem to be all about live shows nowadays and Metallica really know how to put on a show so they have some excellent recordings available. They have actually been selling recordings of their concerts for a few years now through the Live Metallica website. You can listen to a sample of a recording from their extensive touring schedule and then buy the songs you want. There are over 5,000 live songs available from over 300 Metallica concerts around the world.

You do have to sign up to the Live Metallica website to get the app up and running but once you do you can stream the latest shows direct to your iPhone. This is an interesting development since it allows people to bypass iTunes and buy music directly (although obviously as an Apple app they’ll still get their cut). With the popularity of live music soaring it won’t be long before other artists are following Metallica’s lead.

The latest show is from 5th October in Atlanta and includes live recordings of Hit the Lights and Ride the Lightning amongst others.