MIDEM 2008 Keynote speech: U2 manager Paul McGuinness

[totalmark63]

Paul McGuinness is speaking on behalf of ALL artists and ALL writers, not just about U2. Whatever you might think about greed, the truth is that these people are professionals who do a job and deserve payment...no more or no less than you would expect for doing YOUR job.

[no1pat1]

When do you have enough money Paul, you are seriously rich, you can only sleep in one bed, eat 3 meals a day ETC ETC, the problems you are talking about IS affecting new up coming bands, learn from metallica, GREED is wrong and yop are GREEDY.

[argoninja2112]

@no1pat1 the fact is that he doesn't need anymore money and doesn't have to be making this speech. he could easily sit at home and count the significant cash he has made as U2's manager. instead, he has taken out time, more than once, to point out that the real greed resides with the listener, who commonly doesn't expect to pay for the musical products they choose. downloading on a paying basis is fine, but for free? try that in a restaurant or grocery store, or at Best Buy. theft is greed.

[no1pat1]

@argoninja2112 when you taped a mates album that you liked was that theft, you have to remember its a two way street when it comes to donloading, not everyone burns them on to cd's etc, they download and listen to the music and alot of times if they like it they buy it, i know this as ive done it and so have alot of people i know, also ive often recommended an album from a download ive done to freinds etc who dont have access to computers dont get me wrong i rarely download,

[argoninja2112]

@no1pat1 the progressive drop in album sales shows that it's fairly evident that people are generally NOT buying albums. i don't have any problem with listening to something via the computer, using something like Rhapsody, for instance. this mimics the function that radio served for many decades, but without the commercials and with far more choice. i don't disagree that there is a two-way street. it can benefit artists to increase fan access to their songs. labels should lower prices, too.

[argoninja2112]

@no1pat1 album sales have dropped considerably in the last ten years, which tells me that people are definitely NOT buying the albums they sample. i don't mind listening to the computer like it's a radio, but i think that it's naive to think we're not stealing from the artists (and the fat label execs). it IS a two-way street though, and i wouldn't deny there is a lot of benefit to having instant access to songs. i would add that labels should seriously consider dropping prices/adding value.

[Thetan25]

Billionair baldy''s preachin about greed? What a wanker...

[i24msd]

cedarjet707, Are you a professional musician?

[cedarjet707]

This guy is a complete joke. A billionaire whining about how he's being ripped off. Calling the fans "thieves" - shameful. I was at this speech, he went on like this for an hour -and not a single mention of creativity or actual music. Perhaps people don't pay for music any more cos all the honesty and creative ambition has been squeezed out by leaches like this guy. Are kids going to put down their guitars and turntables cos people like this can't find a way to rip them off anymore? Hilarious.

[BlueMeanieSulk]

I do not know if Mr McGuinness wants or would like the job, nevertheless, he strikes me as the man to take this forward and protect/govern artists rights properly.

[keithdayvid]

Hear! Hear!

[nsputnik]

Lars Urich 2.0