U2 album exclusive

No freebies to come with the new U2 release

09 June 2008 - Coldplay and Radiohead have been distributing their music in new ways by giving fans their music for free, but do not expect the same from rock giants U2.

Their new album is due out this year and U2's manager Paul McGuinness explained to 6 Music why they would not follow in Radiohead's footsteps.

He said: "There will be events around the release of the album but for U2 physical sales are still an enormous part of our business and we still sell a lot of actual CDs.

"We will obviously work with whatever technology is available to make the release of the new record as interesting as possible."

"For U2, physical sales are still an enormous part of our business and we still sell a lot of actual CDs."
U2's Manager - Paul McGuinness

Mc Guinness feels Radiohead's free giveaway and pay-what-you-like scheme was not a very business-savvy move.

Speaking to 6 Music, he said: "We should all be aware that Radiohead's honesty box release of their album to some extent backfired."

Continuing: "Even though it was available on their own website for no money at all, if that was what you preferred to pay - 60 to 70 per cent of the people who downloaded the record stole it anyway even though it was available for free."

With regards to an actual release date McGuinness revealed they are hoping to put the record out in Autumn 2008.

"The exact date is not clear yet but I would think towards the end of October," McGuinness said.

Georgie Rogers