Pardon my French, but I almost shit my pants yesterday when I saw U2's video for !Pod that does more to promote !Pod than the band. In other words, a commercial.
It's bad enough that The Rolling Stones started singing for Microsoft; that Lenny Kravitz is playing guitar for the Gap; but U2 selling out?!?! Is this possible?....
I had to do a bit of digging to find explanations for this and the best that I came up with was an article from the band's news service detailing the recent theft of a copy of their new, unreleased album and the band's reaction to it:
But in the era of peer-to-peer filesharing, U2 are coming to terms with the fact that two years of hard work on a project expected to generate tens of millions in revenue could be made available as a free download on the internet months in advance of its planned November release.
U2’s lead singer Bono has proposed a radical solution. "If it is on the internet this week, we will release it immediately as a legal download on iTunes, and get hard copies into the shops by the end of the month,"
Other bands have leaked advance copies of an album on to the web for downloading to create a buzz and it has lead to an increase in album sales! So at best U2 could be accused of being a bit mis-guided and then over-reacting. At worst, they sold out. The answer is probably in that murky grey area....
If you want to check out the 'video' or full on tv ad go Here
Well, I knew if I waited just a little, Bono would hang himslef with his own ipod cord. Let me quote an article I saw in the metro today .. it'll be my rebuttle.
" U2, ipod may have a deal -
U2 and Apple Computer Inc. are expected to announce next week that they have signed a deal to sell custom ipods.
According to a source, the rock band's upcoming album How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, due Nov. 23 via Interscope Records, will come preloaded on ipods that will be available the week of the street date.
Interscope, a unit of Universal Music Group, declined to comment; an Apple spokesperson could not be reached."
I think the title of their new album is ironically fitting. >;-)
Posted by: Kyle | October 20, 2004 at 09:06 AM
All good points, Kyle. However, I'm still hoping that this is all part of a bigger plan. Like getting more exposure for DATA (there's a link to it on the left hand side of the page). This could be manipulation of the media and the coporate world for an altruistic motive. Let's face it, Bono is one of the most intelligent men alive and he knows how to work the system.
But i'm sure his ego gets a healthy fix from all of that as well...
Posted by: J | October 15, 2004 at 01:34 PM
I don't believe for one second that U2 is naiive in any way. They knew full well what they signed up for. It's just another forum for Bonos ego to rage unchecked. U2 has realized sooner than later that the new road to music consumerism is well on it's way to being online exclusively, and being maket savy went that route full force. They picked itunes to sell their music because the ipod by apple is the hottest mp3 player out right now. Apple's marketing is also pretty large budgeted and riding that wave would guarantee Bono and his clan BIG revenues with minimal marketing costs of their own.
Posted by: kyle | October 14, 2004 at 04:29 PM
Hell, fighting and/or running from the man is hard enough. But helping him out!?! What the hell were they thinking?
You're right, they could've just released their own video and it would've still had an ounce of integrity.
Posted by: J | October 13, 2004 at 05:26 PM
Well, it wouldn't be so bad to have your "tune" on itunes for sale, however the ad/video on the apple site is very much poised to sell ipods, using the U2 image rather than selling the song/album by U2.
I guess it's all a big ass ad! ... can't run from the man!
Posted by: shaz | October 13, 2004 at 04:16 PM