Critics said the BBC had given U2 “the sort of publicity money can’t buy”.

The corporation’s editorial complaints unit (ECU) acknowledged that radio coverage of the event, including a rooftop concert, breached guidelines.

The Edge & Bono

It added the use of the slogan U2 = BBC “gave an inappropriate impression of endorsement”.

RadioCentre, the trade body for commercial radio companies, made a formal complaint over the coverage.

Complaints over the free publicity given to the band on BBC TV, radio and online included those of Conservative MP Nigel Evans, who said it was “the sort of publicity money can’t buy”.

“Why should licence fee-payers shoulder the cost of U2’s publicity?”

The ECU admitted that a reference to the BBC being “part of launching this new album”, in an interview between Radio 1 presenter Zane Lowe and U2 singer Bono, was inappropriate.

The body also upheld a complaint that it was inappropriate for the Radio 1 website to contain links to the websites of ticket agents for the band’s concerts.

‘Potentially sensitive’

“The Radio 1 leadership team have reminded executive producers and presenters about the issues to be considered in relation to judgments about undue prominence, and the distinction between the reporting of new artistic work and commercial promotion,” it said, earlier this week.

“The management of BBC Marketing, Communication and Audiences (the Division responsible for the U2 = BBC graphic) has reminded all staff of the need to consult the editorial policy team in a timely manner for advice when potentially sensitive issues such as commercial interests are involved.”

However, complaints about an edition of Jo Whiley’s Radio 1 show, and a BBC News online report of the U2 concert on the roof of Broadcasting House, were not upheld.

A crowd of around 5,000 watched the rooftop show, which capped off a day of promotion for the Irish band’s 12th studio album, with U2 appearing as special guests on Radio 1.

The band performed four tracks during the 20-minute gig, which was broadcast live on DJ Chris Evans’s BBC Radio 2 show.

- BBC

It’s initially investing $25 million in the Series E round, and plans to increase the investment to up to $100 million through the purchase of stock from employees whose stock has vested, as well as other eligible shareholders. Elevation co-founder Marc Bodnick will join Yelp’s board of directors.

The funding round comes just a month after Yelp was reportedly close to a $500 million acquisition by Google, and then is believed to have turned down the deal at the 11th hour. At the time, it was widely believed that Yelp may have made the about-face because a better deal came along.

“We have been able to grow and scale our business quickly, even in the tough economic environment of the last year–a clear indicator that we’ve only begun to realize the potential of local search,” Yelp CEO and co-founder Jeremy Stoppelman said in a release. “This investment in Yelp provides us with even more capital to focus on scaling our already proven business model and we are thrilled to have Elevation as a new partner.”

Translation: They think they can get much bigger than $500 million.

- CNET

The 35th annual dinner, set for Thursday, May 6, will take place at The Tent at Lincoln Center. Always one of the best nights on the Irish American social calendar, this year’s gala should be extra-special given the presence of Bono, one of the world’s most famous humanitarians . . . and, of course, rock stars.

The desire to provide music education to Irish schoolchildren brought U2 and the AIF together last year. Irish kids don’t learn music as a core subject in school, unlike students in most other parts of the world. In 2009, the worldwide Ireland Funds and U2 committed $10 million to bring music education to Irish schools, and U2 so far have provided $7 million in funding.

The New York dinner will undoubtedly help to provide a healthy chunk of financing for the worthy goal, so mark your calendar! For more information on the dinner, visit www.irlfunds.org.

- IrishCentral.com

Premiered in London as part of George Clooney’s Hope For Haiti telethon it will be available for iTunes download here on January 25, with 100% of the money going to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Oxfam America, Partners In Health, Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, and Wyclef Jean’s Yéle Haiti Foundation.

“Sitting in the studio and watching Haiti hurting, I knew immediately I had to do something,” says producer Swizz Beatz who’s co-ordinated the ‘Stranded…’ project. “I reached out to my friends Bono and Jay-Z and asked for their help. Jay and Rihanna sent their vocals and that same night Bono and I went into the studio. It’s important we as a global community all come together to help. Haiti needs us right now.”

There will also be a Hope For Haiti download album featuring the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson who all participated in the global TV event, which aired in Ireland on MTV.

- Hotpress.com

U2’s new album is well underway and could be released this year. At the recent Golden Globe Awards, which U2 were nominated for Best Soundtrack, The Edge told Entertainment Weekly:

‘We are working on a lot of new songs. Some of them are really, really happy. We’re convinced that we have something really special”.

The guitarist also mentioned the album could be released earlier than expected.

‘It’s like deciding whether we are going to release the album before the tour starts or leave it for a while, we don’t really know yet. Literally, within a day of getting off the road, Bono and I were working on new songs’.

The Edge revealed that the album’s sound was also still to be decided.

‘We are experimenting with a lot of different arrangements, and electronic is one of the things we are playing with. But there are other songs that are very traditional, almost folk. In some ways, that’s the thing we haven’t figured out yet, is where this album is going to end up’.

- Music-news.com

Bono

Bono is one of several top international acts who will perform at the Hope For Haiti TV fundraising show on January 22.

Others confirmed for the event include Sting, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keys. The event is being organised by George Clooney who said that more than over 40 artists are expected to attend the show.

The aim of the concert, Clooney explained, is “to show the people of Haiti that the whole world is paying attention”.

The benefit, likely to be broadcast on a dozen American TV networks, will be hosted by Clooney and the Haitian-born perfomer Wyclef Jean.

According to actor Mark Wahlberg: “Haiti has been one of the poorest countries in the world for such a long time. And it’s important for people to continue to help and change that.”

The Hope For Haiti event will benefit the Red Cross, Unicef, Oxfam America, Partners in Health and Yclef Jean’s Yele Haiti Foundation.

Songs from participating artists will be available on iTunes, with proceeds going towards the fund.

- Hotpress

The band appeared before 1.3 million people on the 20 shows of their U.S. tour which will resume this year.

The current U2 tour ranks as the fifth largest in history. The Rolling Stones with $162 million in their 2005 tour, hold the top spot. U2’s own 2005 tour, which made $138.9 million in sales, is rated is no. 3.

However, sales of U2’s “No Line on the Horizon” have been disappointing. The album sold just over one million copies in the U.S., with Springsteen again in second, the Elton John and Billy Joel collaboration in third and Britney Spears in fourth. U2’s The Edge warned in a New Year’s interview that the record sales business may disappear altogether because music can be downloaded so easily now.

The details appeared in trade publication Pollstar. The article pointed out that well established bands are able to charge higher prices for premium tickets, which makes it easier for them to get huge sales.

- JANE WALSHE, IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Radio 2 broadcasted a one hour selection of songs from U2’s 360 Tour at Wembley Stadium this past summer. U2 played over two nights at Wembley – this recording is from the Saturday show on 15 August, 2009.

Radio 2 will broadcast a one hour selection of songs from U2’s 360%deg; Tour at Wembley Stadium this past summer. U2 played over two nights at Wembley – this recording is from the Saturday show on 15 August, 2009.

Listen live or later via the BBC iPlayer.

- U2.com

'Artificial Horizon'

We now have exclusive first details of the special remix album the band have put together for subscribers.

It’s called ‘Artificial Horizon‘ and it features 13 stunning U2 remixes including several never previously released.

Just to give you a taster, we can reveal that the tracklisting includes Trent Reznor’s remix of Vertigo, Jackknife Lee’s remix of Fast Cars and David Holmes’s remix of Beautiful Day. Then there are mesmerising remixes of Staring At The Sun, City of Blinding Lights, and If God Will Send His Angels….

We’ll be posting full details of the album on the site in the next few days. But you’ll be the first to get it – and this limited edition release CD won’t be in the shops.

best wishes for the holiday season
from all at U2.Com.

- U2.com

Tonic's 2009 Celebrity iPod Auction

For the second year running, an impressive star-studded group has rallied for Tonic’s Celebrity iPod Auction, benefiting Music Rising.

Started after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a nonprofit that works to support the Gulf Region by doing everything from replacing destroyed instruments to rebuilding music education programs to re-opening the historic Preservation Jazz Hall in New Orleans.

Last year Tonic auctioned personalized iPods from celebrities such as Bill Clinton, Scarlet Johansson, and Madonna.

This year The Edge has autographed his iPod, loaded onto it his favorite songs, and donated it to the auction. It’s a great gift for any Edge fan not only because they will receive a personalized iPod, but also because 100% of the proceeds will go directly to Music Rising.

The auction will launch on December 17, 2009, and end on Sunday, December 20, 2009, so that fans can receive their iPods in time for t  he holidays. Simply follow the eBay link below, and let the bidding begin!

http://cgi.ebay.com/iPod-Nano-Autographed-by-U2s-The-Edge-100-FOR-CHARITY_W0QQitemZ170420993538QQcmdZViewItemQQptZOther_MP3_Players?hash=item27ade1fe02#ht_500wt_1182

http://www.tonic.com/article/tonic-2009-celebrity-ipod-auction/

A list of top touring artists of the decade showed that U2 earned $844,157,925. Almost 10 million fans (9,869,953) attended their shows, and they’ve played 288 concerts, all of which sold out.

Their setlist essential is “Where the Streets Have No Name,” according to Billboard.com.

The Irish band were number 2 on Billboard’s list, in between the Rolling Stones (at number 1) and Madonna (at number 3).

The figures prompted Rolling Stone magazine to observe that within a period of 10 years the band “grossed more than most countries’ yearly gross national product.”

U2’s wealth looks set to climb even further into the stratosphere in the near future. The band have announced their 360 tour will continue in 2010, and they will make stops all over Europe and the U.S.

In February 2009 protestors gathered outside Ireland’s Department of Finance to complain about U2’s transfer of their tax affairs from Ireland to the Netherlands, the Irish Times reported. The band made this decision in 2006 after the Irish government altered a historic law exempting artists from paying tax.

Since 2006, artists living in Ireland have had to pay tax on any earnings above above $358,500 (250,000 euros).

- FRIEDA KLOTZ, IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

U2’s Winter from drama Brothers was nominated for the top prize along with MCCartney’s tune from Everybody’s Fine, I Want to Come Home.

Also up for the Best Song honour are Cinema Italiano from Nine, I Will See You from Avatar and T Bone Burnett’s The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart.

- ContactMusic

The band will lead the line-up at the Somerset show on Friday 25 June.

“Everyone in the band is very excited about it,” Bono told the BBC at the launch of an anti-Aids/HIV campaign.

It will be U2’s first festival gig for more than 25 years and will see them make a flying visit to the UK in the middle of a North American tour.

Asked if he would use the festival to promote the campaign, Bono said: “I think it will just be about the music on that day, and that spirit that seems to take over everybody in that sacred ground.”

He added: “We’ll certainly be well-rehearsed, we’ll be coming straight from the tour.”

Red laces

Bono was in central London on Monday to launch the “Lace Up. Save Lives” campaign – a partnership between Nike and the (RED) brand, which was co-founded by the U2 frontman.

He was joined at the launch, just ahead of World Aids Day, by Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and several other international football stars.

The campaign encourages people to buy red laces to help fund AIDS medication and education programmes in Africa.

Next year’s Glastonbury takes place from 25-27 June – during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

No other headliners have yet been confirmed. David Bowie has denied that he will join U2 on the bill, but it is rumoured that stadium rockers Muse could appear.

Tickets for the event sold out shortly after they went on sale last month.

By Tim Masters
Entertainment correspondent, BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8387265.stm