U2 Defends Radiohead In Letter To NME
"I wanted to set the record straight on behalf of the members of U2 on comments made to the BBC by our much-loved and valued manager, Paul McGuinness, regarding 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 internet service providers and
technology companies profit from the so-called ‘disintermediation’ of
the music business when so many music lovers are losing their jobs. And
while there is no doubt that it’s extremely difficult for a new artist
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
