“It was just a few years ago that U2 joined Apple Inc. for one of the more stellar press events in Silicon Valley history. The band was on the verge of unleashing ‘Vertigo’ on the world. Bono and The Edge joined Steve Jobs on stage to unveil the latest generation iPods, including a very special U2-branded device,” Jim Goldman writes for CNBC.
“Flash forward to today: Bono is a partner in venture firm Elevation Partners which owns 39 percent of Palm, which will be releasing the iPhone-like Pre some time this summer,” Goldman writes. “And now there’s word that U2’s upcoming tour, U2 360 Degrees, which kicks off about the time Palm will release Pre, will be sponsored by Research in Motion and its Blackberry.”
“Ouch. U2 and Apple was such a beautiful thing. But ahhh, how relationships — especially between tech and entertainment — can be so fleeting,” Goldman writes. “Still, I think this deal says a lot more about U2’s commercialism and partnership with Live Nation than it does about the future of iPod and Apple’s ongoing influence in the music industry.”
Much more in the full article here.
