Bono – exercising some damage control – has written to the NME to say he thinks ‘Radiohead were courageous for ‘In Rainbows’ release’ in response to Paul McGuinness’ earlier comments regarding Radiohead’s ‘In Rainbows’ pay-what-you-like release. McGuinness, who controversially believes ISP’s facilitate music pirating and are thus robbing artists, had claimed the experiment was a failure and U2 wouldn’t be following their example. Bono writes he disagrees with his manager, and says Radiohead are ‘courageous and imaginative in trying to figure out some new relationship with their audience.’ An example U2 hopefully will follow. Perhaps they could pick Trent Reznor’s brain.
The full letter will appear in today’s edition of the printed version of the NME.
After reading McGuinness entire text, the reason why they can gross $365 million on tour sales is because people have access to music, whether this be from radio or download site (legal or illegal). I applaud what radiohead did, i however still purchased radioheads album because I wanted the high quality bit rate offer from the CD versus what they offered on download.
McGuinness need to update this thinking as with rising costs to distrubute everything from milk and eggs to even the production costs, like CDs. If i was an artist, i would rather do what Radiohead did and NIN and skip the record company all together … i end up making more money and getting my product to the consumer directly
After reading McGuinness entire text, the reason why they can gross $365 million on tour sales is because people have access to music, whether this be from radio or download site (legal or illegal). I applaud what radiohead did, i however still purchased radioheads album because I wanted the high quality bit rate offer from the CD versus what they offered on download.
McGuinness need to update this thinking as with rising costs to distrubute everything from milk and eggs to even the production costs, like CDs. If i was an artist, i would rather do what Radiohead did and NIN and skip the record company all together … i end up making more money and getting my product to the consumer directly
Here’s the letter:
BONO WRITES
I wanted to set the record straight on behald of the members of U2 on comment made to the BBC by our much-loved and valued manager, Paul McGuinness, rearding Radiohead’s decision to make the music of ‘In Rainbows’ available as a download, using the ‘honesty box’ idea for payment.
We agree with our manager that this is a head-scratching and worrisome time for many musicians who, unlike ourselves, are depending on royalty or publishing cheques to pay the rent (particularly songwriters). We also agree that it is disturbing to see so-called ‘disintermediation’ of the music business [the cutting out of middlemen such as record shops, labels etc. between listeners and musicians caused by the internet – Ed] when so many music lovers are losing their jobs. And while there is no doubt that it’s extremely difficult for new artists to get the kind of investment on which U2 depended in the first few wobbly years of recording, we disagree with Paul’s assessment of Radiohead’s release as “having backfired to a certain extent”. We think they were courageous and imaginative in trying to figure out some new relationship with their audience. Such imagination and courage are in short supply right now…they’re a sacred talent and we feel blessed to be around at the same time.
With respect, Bono
Here’s the letter:
BONO WRITES
I wanted to set the record straight on behald of the members of U2 on comment made to the BBC by our much-loved and valued manager, Paul McGuinness, rearding Radiohead’s decision to make the music of ‘In Rainbows’ available as a download, using the ‘honesty box’ idea for payment.
We agree with our manager that this is a head-scratching and worrisome time for many musicians who, unlike ourselves, are depending on royalty or publishing cheques to pay the rent (particularly songwriters). We also agree that it is disturbing to see so-called ‘disintermediation’ of the music business [the cutting out of middlemen such as record shops, labels etc. between listeners and musicians caused by the internet – Ed] when so many music lovers are losing their jobs. And while there is no doubt that it’s extremely difficult for new artists to get the kind of investment on which U2 depended in the first few wobbly years of recording, we disagree with Paul’s assessment of Radiohead’s release as “having backfired to a certain extent”. We think they were courageous and imaginative in trying to figure out some new relationship with their audience. Such imagination and courage are in short supply right now…they’re a sacred talent and we feel blessed to be around at the same time.
With respect, Bono
I’ve done no research on the music industry’s business practices, but in my opinion only …
1) It appears that unless you’re an uber-group, a band’s contracts with record companies often leave them in the cold while the record companies collect most of the cash.
2) It seems as though that the music industry’s refusal to embrace the digital space has led to their current predicament. (despite the artist contracts mentioned above which heavily favor labels)
To these points, I find it difficult to sympathize with the record companies.
While I never “Napster’d” when it was in its heyday of the late-1990s, sometimes I think if the record companies had worked with them to construct a system where DRM was applied and transferred to the downloader upon paying a small fee for that download (instead of fighting them so vigorously to the point that Napster was reduced to nothing) … then perhaps it would be the standard in digital music services that could provide downloads in any format for any digital media player.
I think I’ve kind of rambled on this point — so obviously folks may poke holes in my statements. I’m just typing this in a facsimile of stream-of-consciousness thought while doing “real work” at my day job.
I’m interested in what other folks think about the future of digital downloads and how artists and record companies can all benefit from a solid business model.
I’ve done no research on the music industry’s business practices, but in my opinion only …
1) It appears that unless you’re an uber-group, a band’s contracts with record companies often leave them in the cold while the record companies collect most of the cash.
2) It seems as though that the music industry’s refusal to embrace the digital space has led to their current predicament. (despite the artist contracts mentioned above which heavily favor labels)
To these points, I find it difficult to sympathize with the record companies.
While I never “Napster’d” when it was in its heyday of the late-1990s, sometimes I think if the record companies had worked with them to construct a system where DRM was applied and transferred to the downloader upon paying a small fee for that download (instead of fighting them so vigorously to the point that Napster was reduced to nothing) … then perhaps it would be the standard in digital music services that could provide downloads in any format for any digital media player.
I think I’ve kind of rambled on this point — so obviously folks may poke holes in my statements. I’m just typing this in a facsimile of stream-of-consciousness thought while doing “real work” at my day job.
I’m interested in what other folks think about the future of digital downloads and how artists and record companies can all benefit from a solid business model.
Until today, I haven’t seen any band conquering great success without the support of a record company. Why? Because television and radio exposition is paid and expensive. With internet, this doesn’t not follow. In the next decade we’ll probably see Youtube’s video and sound quality rise and meet ordinary TV’s standards, with almost no cost for any indie band exposing itself on the net.
So, at the moment a small band reach a great airplay on the web (easily measured by services like last.fm), we will see the end of the old business model.
Until today, I haven’t seen any band conquering great success without the support of a record company. Why? Because television and radio exposition is paid and expensive. With internet, this doesn’t not follow. In the next decade we’ll probably see Youtube’s video and sound quality rise and meet ordinary TV’s standards, with almost no cost for any indie band exposing itself on the net.
So, at the moment a small band reach a great airplay on the web (easily measured by services like last.fm), we will see the end of the old business model.
I think the record companies are going to have to stop freaking out that people are buying fewer CDs. I also think Bono is right about Radiohead being “courageous and inventive.” Someone had to be first in doing such a thing. Maybe someday there will be no more record companies and artists will sell their music without a “middle man,” the way Radiohead has done.
I think the record companies are going to have to stop freaking out that people are buying fewer CDs. I also think Bono is right about Radiohead being “courageous and inventive.” Someone had to be first in doing such a thing. Maybe someday there will be no more record companies and artists will sell their music without a “middle man,” the way Radiohead has done.
Hello.
🙂
“The birth took place at the couple’s home (just outside Oslo),” says the palace, adding mother and baby were both well.
Bye.
Hello.
🙂
“The birth took place at the couple’s home (just outside Oslo),” says the palace, adding mother and baby were both well.
Bye.