U2 To Enter Digital Visual Age & More!
Paul McGuinness spoke with Paul MacInnes (tongue twister - I know) recently for The Guardian newspaper in the U.K. As the article also featured other content, here’s the meat-and-potatoes of what Goose had to say:
U2 manager reveals why people don’t normally bother interviewing managers
Let’s hear it for the managers! They’re the unsung heroes of the music industry! And just because they’re generally balding, overweight and devoid of musical talent doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be championed in a style formerly reserved for a Dragons’ Den panel. So let’s hear it for bigging up the big men, and where better to start than with U2’s Paul McGuinness?
There’s only one journo up to the job of interviewing the man Bono described as his group’s “iron first in a velvet glove”. That, of course, is Bono’s schoolfriend and chief music critic for the Telegraph, Neil McCormick. In a lengthy and, indeed, tedious encounter with McGuinness, we get to learn the following about his vital role:
U2 have control over when they release retrospectives and compilations. “We felt it was the band’s responsibility to compile and order its own catalogue”
McGuinness expects to see a new business model “in partnership with ISPs, where they effectively become revenue collection partners for rights owners”.
U2 are about to create a “digital visual co-efficient” for album sleeve artwork. “Watch this space because it’s something U2 are addressing on their next album.”
McGuinness also believes that “copyright is part of civilisation” and that “if new ways of stealing from department stores were being developed, you wouldn’t just give up running department stores”.
Well, Mr McGuinness, In the News and its pack of loyal street urchins ARE currently developing new ways of stealing from department stores. And when we bring down BHS, we’ll see who’s laughing then! And, as for the revenue collection thing, we wish you every success!
By the way, Mr. McInness - you may have been the only “journo” *granted* the interview. There are plenty out there (including yours truly) who’d be up for the job and love the opportunity to interview him!
