U2 persists as the biggest rock band in the world. No Line on the Horizon will likely flirt with platinum status in its first week of release - quite an accomplishment in these dire times for the music biz. There aren't many acts left for whom pressing a new album is akin to printing money. When U2 hitched their wagon with concert behemoth Live Nation, the band received a load of company stock as part of the 12-year, $120 million deal. So confident they are in their continued success, I wonder if they've even checked Live Nation's stock quote since the deal? (I did! It's down about 75%!) I can only imagine how the Irish rockers feel about the proposed merger with Ticketmaster!
Given the mansions upon castles of cash this band raked in over the past few decades, there's a certain understandable reluctance to revolutionize the way things are done. But music fans with even the most primitive knowledge of the health of the recording industry will laugh at U2 guitarist the Edge's justification as to why the old business model is the way to go.
If you are currently drinking anything, I advise you put down your glass. Your ensuing spit-take may ruin your computer.
