AfterDawn: News

Bono hopes movie industry can avoid fate of music industry

Rock star Bono, of the group U2 made some interesting quotes today, in regards to illegal file sharing and the music and movie industries.

"The only thing protecting the movie and TV industries from the fate that has befallen music and indeed the newspaper business is the size of the files," says Bono, adding that in just a few years, bandwidth will be so abundant, and connections so fast that entire movies can be downloaded in under a minute, regardless of size.



"A decade's worth of music file-sharing and swiping has made clear that the people it hurts are the creators -- in this case, the young, fledgling songwriters who can't live off ticket and T-shirt sales like the least sympathetic among us," he added.

Bono does believe that Internet content can be tracked, and cited the US' effort to stop child pornography as well as China's to suppress online gaming and pornography.

"Perhaps movie moguls will succeed where musicians and their moguls have failed so far, and rally America to defend the most creative economy in the world, where music, film, TV and video games help to account for nearly four percent of gross domestic product," Bono concluded.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 3 Jan 2010 17:24

• Previous article

• Redbox sets one-day rental record

• Next article

• China arrests over 5000 in porn crackdown

• 34 comments

• cyprusrom

  I think the music industry failed adapting and adopting the new trends, new technology. The movie industry can only learn from that. DRM and crap encryption is not the way.

  3.1.2010 17:32 #1

• Ankoku

  I think what needs to happen is that people like Bono and other members of the entertainment industry need to adapt their standard of living...It makes no sense that entertainers make more than most doctors and people who actually perform necessary functions in life...I always thought songwriters didn't do it for the money?

  3.1.2010 18:07 #2

• cyprusrom

  No, they used to do it for weed and groupies...
  
  They need to make a living too, but I agree, why would some dude that is not even funny worth over $1 million for a 20 minute TV show?

  3.1.2010 18:15 #3

• ZippyDSM

  IMO they are 2 different animals, like a house cat and a tiger the film industry is the TV industry you can't really separate them. Because of that neither can fall to low.
  
  
  With the music industry you had what made it radio be gutted and stuffed for generic cut&paste'a which removed the ability of artists to get known and funneled predictable caned music into everything the industry had its claws into that combined with a mentality their business model monopoly has to be protected befor anything else they simply lost profits because they stagnated the industry.
  
  
  The same can be said for TV but it has more sponsors and active viewers than radio dose and as radio shrinks or becomes more of a niche TV picks up the slack.

  3.1.2010 18:28 #4

• hastheman

  Dude's living in a dream. The only bad thing that happened to the music industry was the RIAA. People still buy music they like, to support the artists they like. Same goes for movies, if its good, its paid for.
  
  There are obvious exceptions to these rules, just Bono is a complete twat for thinking the music industry is dying and thus supporting idiotic organisations like RIAA and MPAA.

  3.1.2010 18:36 #5

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by hastheman: Dude's living in a dream. The only bad thing that happened to the music industry was the RIAA. People still buy music they like, to support the artists they like. Same goes for movies, if its good, its paid for.
  
  There are obvious exceptions to these rules, just Bono is a complete twat for thinking the music industry is dying and thus supporting idiotic organisations like RIAA and MPAA.
  Don't forget the death of radio..... that did far more harm than RIAA and MPAA combined....

  3.1.2010 18:39 #6

• Kraknfart

  What! Is this the Irishman Bono, who as an "artist" pays no Irish income tax on some parts of his personal income, who complained that the Irish government did not give enough money to the third world, and then moved the parts of his financial empire to Holland so that he could pay less Irish tax on it.
  
  Sorry but did I miss something, did sony, time warner or other members of the copyright mafia post profit warnings?
  
  Oh and he playing the porn card as well, "won't somebody think of the children", does he approve of what's happening in china, or is only in favor of freedom, in the same way crApple and Goggle are committed to civil liberties, as long as they don't interfere in their ability to sell records in china
  
  What a *bleep* hypocrite.

  3.1.2010 18:40 #7

• jony218

  If he can direct us to this technology that can download a movie in less than a minute that would prove his point. I doubt even fiberoptics is capable of that speed.
  Unfortunately I think Bono is high on drugs and babbling nonsense, otherwise why does he wear sunglasses even at night.
  Notice how all these liberal "artist" want more "tracking" and control of what people do.
  And why is he so worry about America, isn't he from the UK, he needs to suppress(throttle) his fellow countrymen downloaders first.

  3.1.2010 18:41 #8

• bigfamei

  I don't think the movie studios has learned anything. We see their stubborn way now. Wanting to restrict companies like red box from renting cheap movies. Because the aren't making enough. Its really pioneers like redbox, netflix and amazon. That has helped the movie industry by providing easier access and even cheaper prices. It the convince of getting movies now that has saved the movie industry future. Soon all TV's will have the ability to rend a movie. if you have a game system you can rent a movie. Computer or laptop you can do it. The movie industry should quit trying to force people to buy movies. Because with services like netflix you can just subscribe and have a huge catalog that you can access anytime for a fee. I really don't know why the movie industry is even complaining. There are so many companies that wants to show there movies for them.

  3.1.2010 18:41 #9

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by bigfamei: I don't think the movie studios has learned anything. We see their stubborn way now. Wanting to restrict companies like red box from renting cheap movies. Because the aren't making enough. Its really pioneers like redbox, netflix and amazon. That has helped the movie industry by providing easier access and even cheaper prices. It the convince of getting movies now that has saved the movie industry future. Soon all TV's will have the ability to rend a movie. if you have a game system you can rent a movie. Computer or laptop you can do it. The movie industry should quit trying to force people to buy movies. Because with services like netflix you can just subscribe and have a huge catalog that you can access anytime for a fee. I really don't know why the movie industry is even complaining. There are so many companies that wants to show there movies for them.Don't forget netflix without them you can forget most legal streaming content, but the movie industry is better insulated from an age changing the music industry only really has radio to push the majority of stuff and TV to back it up it has little protection from the world changing.

  3.1.2010 18:45 #10

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by jony218: If he can direct us to this technology that can download a movie in less than a minute that would prove his point. I doubt even fiberoptics is capable of that speed.
  Unfortunately I think Bono is high on drugs and babbling nonsense, otherwise why does he wear sunglasses even at night.
  Notice how all these liberal "artist" want more "tracking" and control of what people do.
  And why is he so worry about America, isn't he from the UK, he needs to suppress(throttle) his fellow countrymen downloaders first.With as much ties and support the film industry has with TV even if you could get films as quickly it would not effect them as badly as it has the music industry and its foundation of tin cans....

  3.1.2010 18:47 #11

• jos22

  Bono fails to see that the pirate music sites provide better quality music in formats to suits every one.
  also there are no benefits in buying music in cd/digital over piracy.
  
  movies on the other hand some of em any come with hours of xtra features which people don't get when they download those xvid avi
  
  also unlike music there is PQ and AQ difference between downloading avi or mkv movies.
  movie fans will still buy blurays and dvd even if they could download full movies in less than a min.
  
  also he also fails to see what that people can just rent and rip dvds if they have slow net connections.
  
  piracy did not cause the music industry to "die"
  RIAA kids killed it by all the price fixing. flooding the charts with manufactured crap and there sue em all compaing. after all if majors provide a good digial services which they still don't back in the napaster days . things could have being very different for them today.
  Bono is part of the most overrated band in the world who rip off fans with over priced shows. bono should still to what he dose best wear dumb ass sun glass all the time and nag people to hand over the money they don't have while he rolls around in his millions.

  3.1.2010 19:22 #12

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by jos22: Bono fails to see that the pirate music sites provide better quality music in formats to suits every one.
  also there are no benefits in buying music in cd/digital over piracy.
  
  movies on the other hand some of em any come with hours of xtra features which people don't get when they download those xvid avi
  
  also unlike music there is PQ and AQ difference between downloading avi or mkv movies.
  movie fans will still buy blurays and dvd even if they could download full movies in less than a min.
  
  also he also fails to see what that people can just rent and rip dvds if they have slow net connections.
  
  piracy did not cause the music industry to "die"
  RIAA kids killed it by all the price fixing. flooding the charts with manufactured crap and there sue em all compaing. after all if majors provide a good digial services which they still don't back in the napaster days . things could have being very different for them today.
  Bono is part of the most overrated band in the world who rip off fans with over priced shows. bono should still to what he dose best wear dumb ass sun glass all the time and nag people to hand over the money they don't have while he rolls around in his millions.Meh I think can music and death of radio did most of the damage...

  3.1.2010 19:27 #13

• NeoandGeo

  Originally posted by jony218: If he can direct us to this technology that can download a movie in less than a minute that would prove his point. I doubt even fiberoptics is capable of that speed.
  Unfortunately I think Bono is high on drugs and babbling nonsense, otherwise why does he wear sunglasses even at night.
  Notice how all these liberal "artist" want more "tracking" and control of what people do.
  And why is he so worry about America, isn't he from the UK, he needs to suppress(throttle) his fellow countrymen downloaders first.He said in a few years, but even now on few Fiberoptic systems, you can download a 720p movie in a few minutes.

  3.1.2010 20:02 #14

• SProdigy

  Originally posted by cyprusrom: I think the music industry failed adapting and adopting the new trends, new technology. The movie industry can only learn from that. DRM and crap encryption is not the way.Right on. If you think about it, we've gone from VHS to DVD to Blu-Ray (and digital downloads, sometimes packed in) in the lifespan of CD's. Also think of the cost/benefit ratio. I can get a 2 hour movie with special features for the cost of a CD with maybe 60 minutes of music, 75% of which I probably won't listen to because it's filler (ie. not the one-hit-wonder.)
  
  Quote:Don't forget the death of radio..... that did far more harm than RIAA and MPAA combined... You can also blame big companies such as Clear Channel, that have bought up all the smaller broadcasters, essentially a monopoly. Also MTV had a big deal in that too. Not in a music video? Why listen to it right? It's all propaganda.
  
  The iPod did some serious damage too. Get your music on demand and fill those 80gb suckers with thousands of songs. Although I can argue that smaller bands have a better chance going the MP3/digital distribution route rather than becoming the next Jonas Brothers.

  3.1.2010 22:12 #15

• fgamer

  I laughed when he says:
  
  "the people it hurts are the creators -- in this case, the young, fledgling songwriters who can't live off ticket and T-shirt sales like the least sympathetic among us,"
  
  They're really struggling that bad to buy their 17th Jaguar, Mercedes Benz, or Cadillac? I mean it must be difficult to maintain their $10Million homes. I mean they clearly need a house the size of a small country, because god knows they need 15 bathrooms, with 35 bedrooms, a pool the size of lake Michigan, with a flat screen 42" TV in each room including the bathrooms, and a refrigerator that looks like something you'd see in the White House (but never gets used)..and lets not forget the bowling alleys they must have with the basketball courts as a backup..with the nice movie theater so they can throw their Million $ parties and watch porn in HD on their 70ft screens"!! So I completely agree with Bono..they cannot make it off of Ticket and T-Shirt sales..
  
  
  Bono go preach about something more of real life concern..and pay attention to your current effort to fight aids and hunger. I think the MPAA can handle taking little Lisa to court for downloading a movie online and suing her for $250,000.

  4.1.2010 02:48 #16

• windsong

  Quote:Bono does believe that Internet content can be trackedWell I guess he has never heard of Freenet, Tor, Iphex, I2P, Imule or Anomos. These anonymous apps are just baby steps. In a few years these apps will be fast AND anonymous (non-trackable).

  4.1.2010 03:05 #17

• iamgq

  My Opinion, downloads have possibly put a dent on the Music Industry. But! Music is also trash rightnow! If such music like D&B, House and other noncomercial music can manage to stay alive without the help of the media. Than any other Genre should be able to hold its own, as long as artist keep pumping out good music, people will listen. But rightnow nothing is original, there is no east and west drama, no hippie movement, no prodigy instrument playing person, no real music. All music now is put together and pushed out by a studio made up person representing what music is not, kind of like a Mr Potatohead, studios need to quit choosing what we like and let us hear everything thats out in its original form...

  4.1.2010 04:06 #18

• beanos66

  Way to go Bono, look to China! for advice
  
  "Stop F***ing clapping then"

  4.1.2010 04:41 #19

• wiimatrix

  Question others when your squeaky clean yourself Bono.

  4.1.2010 04:44 #20

• scum101

  bono who?
  

  Yes, we give you 100% free, no strings attached email! Just send us your address and we will send you as much free email as you could ever wish for

  4.1.2010 06:01 #21

• creaky

  Kraknfart - Good post but please watch the language in future.
  
  At the end of the day, if the masses keep making these 'superstars' larger than life then what can we expect when they make larger than life statements or earn ridiculous amounts of money for something that is only worth a fraction of what they earn. It's just music, it's not that special. As to U2, i've liked them since i was a nipper, but they're just a band, their music isn't even that great (well some of the early stuff was, but the new stuff is all radio-friendly elevator muzak).
  
  Originally posted by jony218: Unfortunately I think Bono is high on drugs and babbling nonsense, otherwise why does he wear sunglasses even at night. Indeed, the proverbial pretentious sunglasses. Has anyone tried driving at night in sunglasses, i have, as i'd forgotten my normal specs so only had my prescription sunglasses, how i got home on the motorway was a miracle, couldn't see a damn thing.
  
  I spent too much of my salary on cd's over the years, i've been buying them since they first hit the market (the same with blank cd's) and they still cost way too much; as is always said in articles such as this, the industry needs to move with the times, they're like dinosaurs. And so are too many of the 'superstars'.
  

  
  
  Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
  Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS/WPA ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 4node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G v3.1, WRT54G2 v1, WRT54G v5. *** Forum Rules ***

  4.1.2010 06:06 #22

• scum101

  You liked my last album tho eh?.. nice bit of freeware ;)
  

  Yes, we give you 100% free, no strings attached email! Just send us your address and we will send you as much free email as you could ever wish for

  4.1.2010 06:15 #23

• creaky

  Hehe, indeed; just as long as you don't start wearing sunglasses at night. Or 'rattle and hum' endless commercial albums :p
  

  
  
  Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
  Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS/WPA ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 4node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G v3.1, WRT54G2 v1, WRT54G v5. *** Forum Rules ***

  4.1.2010 06:22 #24

• scum101

  No chance.. only time I wore sunglasses at night I kind of remember getting run over.
  
  Ahhhh.... if only somebody would offer me a few commercials.. "Bang.. and Bono and his dreary tunes are gone" ! Oh yes
  

  Yes, we give you 100% free, no strings attached email! Just send us your address and we will send you as much free email as you could ever wish for

  4.1.2010 06:28 #25

• kyo28

  Personally I think the movie industry is adapting well to the ever-changing demands of the home entertainment market. I see two big usergroups:
  
  - people who want to buy or rent online: there are various online services where users can rent or buy digital movies, some even accessible through gaming consoles
  
  - people who want to continually get better quality (like myself) : the move to hi-def formats certainly came long way to filling that demand. My movie purchases had dwindle almost to a halt on DVD but with the advent of blu-ray, I'm back to buying 10 movies or so per month

  4.1.2010 07:45 #26

• kfir1

  why the hell is bono news anyways. HE SUCKS PEOPLE and his ONLY a singer not a genius.
  
  I buy only albums I like and NON of it are from bono albums.

  4.1.2010 09:41 #27

• Joshewah

  Downloading has actually helped a lot fledgling bands get recognized. If these new bands/song writers play their cards right they can even cut out the middle men like the record companies who would cannibalize their sales. A lot of bands actually put their own music on torrent sites for the recognition!
  
  You can't download a t-shirt and you can't download the experience of being at a live event, two huge money makers for fledgling bands.
  
  Super groups like U2 and Metallica have their heads too far up their asses to realize this. These old timers can't see the direction the industry is moving. It is actually really exciting to finally see a level playing field again.

  4.1.2010 11:38 #28

• emugamer

  Quote:.....where musicians and their moguls have failed so far...I like the way Bono associates musicians with moguls, like musicians need pimps to survive. The business model that Bono loves so much is nothing more than a prostitution ring.
  
  A decade's worth of music sharing???? People have been recording to cassettes a lot longer than file sharing on the internet existed.
  
  With TIVO, DVR's, On-demand and expensive cable/TV subscriptions and DVD recorders, lumped in the movie business model, movies and TV will do fine Bono. But thanks for your concern.

  4.1.2010 12:33 #29

• harhumph

  Whats Bono's problem.... yeah...yeah... whats b0ners problem.
  
  Quoted from the great B & B-H
  
  
  
  Tets

  4.1.2010 13:11 #30

• NINVIN21

  The south park episode was true this guy is really a piece of crap.
  If he spent more time worrying about his crappy music and not being famous and making money Someone would probably buy at least one of his cd's.
  
  (sorry I didn't have time to read all the other comment's but I'm sure you guys covered everything and made good points as always I love this site)

  5.1.2010 04:21 #31

• mcmenace

  What do you think Bonno would be doing if he didnt strike it rich??
  "Swiping" the music like everybody else he's putting down. What a clown.

  7.1.2010 12:09 #32

• Kraknfart

  Sorry creaky, it's just that I am from Dublin, and like a lot of people from Dublin, I think Bono is a f.... Ooops! nearly said it again
  
  Originally posted by fgamer:
  They're really struggling that bad to buy their 17th Jaguar, Mercedes Benz, or Cadillac? I mean it must be difficult to maintain their $10Million homes.I remember a story going around Dublin many years ago that either bono or the edge bought an apartment in "an up-market" area, and the apartments either side of him so he wouldn't have neighbors to complain about noise.
  
  I hear the latest touring rig for U2 takes 40 articulated trucks to transport it around, that's one truck for the band's gear and 39 for Bono's ego.

  7.1.2010 18:46 #33

• Over_kill

  What this Jerk off fails to realize is the music industry wasnt killed by Torrents. It was destroyed by the constant flow of one-hit-wonders that plague this market. Anyone can figure this out the moment they turn on the radio in the morning as they drive to work.
  
  Torrents have been a way for people to proof Movies and Music alike alot of people out there will listen to music they have downloaded only to buy the original. Why? Cause it was actually worth the money.
  
  Same with movies If it isnt worth the Bandwidth what makes them think that any self respecting person is going to pay hard earned money to go and see it in the cinemas.
  
  Not only that there has been afew times where directors or artists have praised torrents for the copies being downloaded because it was the only real way that they ever could have advertised it in the first place due to poor or no marketing.

  11.1.2010 18:43 #34