Starbucks has announced that it has dropped plans to carry Bruce Springsteen’s new “Devils and Dust” album because of a song that mentions anal sex.

The episode appears to be the first time Starbucks has declined to stock an album by a major act because of concern over lyrics… The java juggernaut, with almost 6,400 outlets in the U.S., has be come an influential link in music distribution in just a few short years, especially in 2004. Starbucks boldly demonstrated its power in music last year when its outlets accounted for at least a third of sales of the million-selling album of Ray Charles duets, “Genius Loves Company.”

I’m a pretty big Springsteen fan, but I’ve got to side with Starbucks on this one. After all, when your business depends on selling people a cup of coffee for four bucks, the last thing you want them to be reminded of is anal sex.

Bruce, however, seems to be taking the news in stride. At Saturday’s concert at the Colorado Convention Center, he told the sold-out audience that “Devils and Dust” would soon be available at Dunkin’ Donuts instead.

Daniel Brogan
Daniel Brogan
Daniel Brogan is the founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief of 5280 Publishing, Inc.