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Tech Check
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U2 |
It was just a few years ago that U2 joined Apple Inc. [AAPL
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] 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.
Jobs, who doesn't like touching anyone, embraced Bono on stage. He (Bono) joined The Edge for a couple of songs. It was magic, and it showed the deep and powerful relationship Apple was forging with the biggest names in music. And it also showed the power and influence that Steve Jobs wielded, attracting no less a global superstar than U2 to help announce Apple's latest achievement.
Flash forward to today: Bono is a partner in venture firm Elevation Partners which owns 39 percent of Palm [PALM
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], which will be releasing the iPhone-like Pre some time this summer.
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 [RIMM
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] and its Blackberry. Presented by Live Nation [LYV
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], the tour will hit fourteen European cities, and will be followed by dates in North America beginning at Chicago’s Soldier Field on Sept. 12th, 2009.
Manager Paul McGuinness said in this morning's release: "This tour announcement marks the first stage of a relationship and shared vision between RIM and U2 that we expect will lead to new and innovative ways to enhance the mobile music experience on the BlackBerry platform for U2 fans. We look forward to sharing more details as the relationship unfolds.”
Ouch. U2 and Apple was such a beautiful thing. But ahhh, how relationships — especially between tech and entertainment — can be so fleeting.
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. But wow, the Blackberry sponsorship of the U2 tour, which promises to break all records, is dripping with symbolism, and not the kind Apple likes.
Questions? Comments?
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