U2 has a manager? Of course, I just had never heard of the g, but on Monday he was kind of everywhere, ,… and totally mad!
First, he was mad at Google, saying he would like the famous search engine to apply the SOPA/PIPA internet piracy legislation:
This happened at the MIDEM conference in Cannes, where U2 manager Paul McGuinness spoke up:
‘It amazes me that Google has not done the right thing. The experience of people when they go on Google and look for U2 music or PJ Harvey music is a shopping list of illegal opportunities to get their music. They have done nothing meaningful to discourage that’.
PJ Harvery? It’s not a complete random example, since his company, Principle Management also manages the British singer. But McGuinness had much more to say:
‘Why are they not trying to solve the future in a more generous way? Ultimately it is in their interest that the flow of content will continue. And that won't happen unless it's paid for. And I don't think we can rely on politicians who are afraid of being unpopular to accomplish this without some willingness and generosity on the part of the tech area.’
‘The fact that Google were able to turn their entire network into a lobbying device, a petition, does not mean every person who ticked the box understood the argument … it wasn't really a debate, it was a demonstration really.’
Yeah Google helped us fight SOPA/PIPA and it was a good thing Mr. McGuinness! Didn’t he understand these bills were the worst attempt to kill freedom on the internet?
He also mentioned Spotify, saying it was a ‘good thing’ but also criticizing the streaming service:
‘Spotify has yet to become popular with artists because artists don’t see the financial benefit of working with Spotify. That’s partly the fault of the labels, and the labels partly own Spotify. And there’s insufficient transparency. But I see no reason why the basic Spotify model shouldn't be part of the future. It is essentially honest so it should be encouraged. I'd like to see it everywhere.’
His ‘don’t-see-why-it-shouldn’t-be-part-of-the-future’ is arrogant, since I don’t see how he could stop Spotify anyway. With its recent 3 million paid-users, it is there to stay, whatever Mr. McGuinness says or wants.
And the irony in all this? The Register is reporting that Bono's investment company, Elevation Partners, made significant donations to the Wikimedia Foundation, the same website which had this anti-SOPA protest campaign two weeks ago by going dark for the day.
Talking about transparency, Mr. McGuinness should at least let us know this small fact, or should at least agree with the people he represents.