New U2 Music Next Week?
Thanks to Todd for pointing this out to us from Billboard. The big news here is that U2 recorded a new song just last Wednesday and it’s slated to be available through this new digital music magazine:
U2, Coldplay, Killers Help Launch (RED)WIRE
by Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Some of the biggest names in music are contributing exclusive songs to RED(WIRE), a new digital music magazine launching on World AIDS Day (Dec. 1).U2, Coldplay, the Killers, the Dixie Chicks, John Legend, R.E.M. and Bob Dylan are on board for the initiative, which is an outgrowth of the Bono-reared activist organization (RED). All proceeds from subscriptions will benefit HIV-infected people in Africa; MSN.com will host a kick-off party on Dec. 1.
For $5, users will receive a new issue of RED(WIRE) every Wednesday, featuring an exclusive song from a major artist, a song from an artist (RED) aims to showcase, a multimedia piece that could encompass video or photography and a look at how proceeds are directly benefiting Africans in need. The materials will be downloaded to a custom player and automatically loaded into iTunes.
Users can send two free issues to friends, and will be rewarded if they join RED(WIRE). “Artists are already saying, ‘I want to give you a track for those people who brought friends in,’” (RED)WIRE founder Don MacKinnon tells Billboard.com. “That’s the biggest idea: using social networking to actually change the world in a unique way.”
U2’s track was recorded just last Wednesday, while the Killers, Elton John and the Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant teamed up for the Christmas song “Joseph, Better You Than Me,” which MacKinnon describes as “like a power ballad.” This is the third year in a row the Killers have penned a holiday song and donated proceeds to (RED).
Meanwhile, John Legend’s take on Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” finds him eschewing piano for a
stripped-down arrangement with guitar, bass and backing vocalists, according to MacKinnon.Also coming is the first new Dixie Chicks song since the group’s Grammy sweep in 2007, “Lucky One,” and Elvis Costello and the Police jamming on “Watching the Detectives” and “Walking From the Moon,”
taped during Costello’s new Sundance Channel show “Spectacle.” Additional (RED)WIRE offerings will
be announced in the coming weeks.MacKinnon is particularly enthused about the creative directions open to (RED)WIRE, especially with such high-profile artist participation.
“I had a meeting with Jay-Z, and he wants to talk about artists to be featured in that spotlight slot,”
he says. “Big artists may curate an issue. The whole goal was to create a creative platform. When somebody says, ‘I do all this photography and I want to put it in as an extra,’ That’s when I go, this is going to be really cool.”
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I am so not optimistic enough to believe that U2’s contribution will be included in the first week or two of the service. (Hope hope). NME claims the first week “big name” artist is an Elton John/Killers collaboration.
Regardless, the (red)wire site says if you sign up now with just your email, you get the first two issues free: joinredwire.com, so that seems like a no-brainer to me …
Ugh… why do people think that all music listeners use is iTunes or an iPod? Apple software is wildly inaccessible to visually-impaired users such as myself and the news of a custom player and the songs being able to be loaded into iTunes have pretty much prevented me from signing up for this service. I realize it’s for a great cause but why not make these songs accessible for people who use different media playing software or portable audio players?
It will be nice to hear something new from U2 after so long! No matter when we hear it!
I agree with Marc, though my situation differs. I have an iPod, but don’t download anything enough to buy a subscription to a service. I usually burn my CDs onto it and use it that way. Can’t I just download the song when it comes out? Must I subscribe to the service?
Or how about they debut it on the radio like normal? If U2 puts their new album on this service first instead of CD, I’m going to be majorly upset. Mp3s are NOT CD-quality and I will not be buying a digital album anytime soon.
You’re probably right that the new U2 content will not come during the first few weeks; however, to charge up visibility and recognition of World AIDS Day, etc, the band may opt to release a new song near the end of the first day (end of the day’s news cycle, launching an opportunity for the 6 and 10 PM news.
What’s with Bono’s blonde hair in the introduction video, though?