U2's manager: 'Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' album backfired'

U2 3

Paul McGuinness says U2's next album won't be given away free

U2's manager Paul McGuinness has said that Radiohead's decision to release their latest album 'In Rainbows' on a pay-what-you-like basis has "backfired".

McGuinness said that U2's forthcoming new album, which he said is likely to be released in October, would not be released in the style of 'In Rainbows'.

The manager claimed that most fans who downloaded the album did so through illegal means, despite the album being available for a nominal amount legally.

"60 to 70 percent of the people who downloaded the record stole it anyway," he told BBC 6 Music's Music Week, "even though it was available for free."

Speaking about how U2's album will be released, McGuinness said, "We will obviously work with whatever technology is available to make the release of the new record as interesting as possible.

"[But] for U2 physical sales are still an enormous part of our business and we still sell a lot of actual CDs."

The record will be the follow-up to 2004's 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb'.

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Comments (14)

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jackmaizels

Jun 10, 2008

The way the released In Rainbows was an experiment, just to see what would happen, how could that backfire exactly?Also, the album managed to get number 1 in the UK upon its physical release, despite it being available for effectively free a short while before hand.

key_nme

Jun 10, 2008

How can a man behind U2 mock innovation? In Rainbows was an experiment, why do so many stupid people believe it was a strong business model, it was an experiment.

TheJeanGenie

Jun 10, 2008

Between the lines: we're out to make money, so we don't want people to get it free. Technology scares us.

[NICE DREAM]

Jun 10, 2008

U2 and their management always tell us to give more and save the third world... then screw us with overpriced concert tickets..im sick of feeding their cash cow! when their new album comes out , i know how i am going to get it!

bamusbatisbarns

Jun 10, 2008

This just doesn't really help me believe that anything associated with U2 isn't just covered in arse.

ianybob

Jun 10, 2008

in other words bono needs more money to feed his ego, so we're not giving it away.also: "60 to 70 percent of the people who downloaded the record stole it anyway," where did that come from? prove it

gordonthemoron

Jun 10, 2008

how exactly does paul mcguiness know that 60-70% of punters downloaded in rainbows album illegally? Radiohead stated that no-one knew how much people had paid for the download so it sounds like he's talking rubbish

nahnahnah

Jun 10, 2008

Considering how horrendous the In Rainbows website was I'm not surprised if 70% of people gave up and downloaded it elsewhere. I went to the raidohead website with the intention of PAYING, and after 5 minutes trying to come with the horrendous site I gave up and downloaded it elsewhere in seconds. Companies need to realise that when they make their legitimate products far harder to access than the illegitimate ones then people are gonna use the other ones.

jorges

Jun 10, 2008

TheJeanGenie nailed it right on the head; Paul Mcguinness has been doing the rounds at all the music conferences extolling the virtues of the music industry of yesteryear as opposed to the evil, perverted and thieving public at large who "steals" music these days. Hey Mr. Mcguinness: GET A FUCKIN' CLUE! IT'S OVER!!! THE END!!! FINI!! SFARSIT!!! EL FIN!!! DIE ENDE!!! çµ‚äº†!!! FIM!!! ÐºÐ¾Ð½ÐµÑ†!!! Are you getting the message yet? it's tme to come up with NEW IDEAS!! There are still ways to rip people off!! Come on man...I have faith in you. An old dog CAN learn new tricks!!

tommychughes

Jun 10, 2008

McGuinness is very snappy towards anyone that conflicts with his business interests. He left Ireland to avoid taxation, in his speech at the Midem convention in Cannes he advocated the breaching of human rights (by claiming governments should ban illegal music downloaders from the internet), he then picked fights with Apple, Facebook and Myspace over royalties and now as Radiohead attempt to change the way they produce music he starts barking at them like a terrier.Everything that comes out his pie hole is about money.

guyp16

Jun 10, 2008

call me controversial, but U2 would have to pay me to listen to the crap they produce

dukkookim

Jun 10, 2008

Call me controversial but you're a bunch of Radiohead ass-kissers like the rest of the world. Maybe Paul's right? I love how if anyone says anything remotely negative about Radiohead that these clones start firing back on all cylinders. No one said anything about Bono...why attack him? Whether you like it or not, U2 influenced in a big way many of these bands you bend over backwards to defend.

ed2005

Jun 11, 2008

dukkookin - no-one's denying U2 are influential 9anf if they are, then they're in denial), but given how much money the band have made, they should be giving much more to charity themselves and lead by example. Downloading is not killing the music industry it's saving it. Let's be honest, U2 have made enough money to live on for several lifetimes. They don't need any more, and neither does Mcguinness.The problem is when people who know NOTHING about music are running the music industry. anyone who thinks selling music is like selling baked beans is clueless.

jorges

Jun 12, 2008

Hey Dukkookin - Paul Mcguinness is absolutely wrong on this. Whether you like Radiohead or you think U2 is influential has nothing to do with the matter at heart here; people, ideas, organizations or corporations, etc., etc. that DON'T MOVE AHEAD WITH THE TIMES ARE DOOMED TO DIE. The public is going to download "Illegally" unless a better option comes up. NO ONE can stop that. remember dubbing tapes of lp's back in the 80's? it's THE SAME THING..only technology these days facilitates that on a MUCH larger scale. You cannot move backwards. It's done. Someone will come up with a new business model, but for now it's all about selling LESS of MORE...do you get it? And lastly: please don't forget that music existed WAY BEFORE there was a music industry...