U2 and Coldplay back new Aids mag
By Georgie Rogers
6 Music news reporter
December 1, 2008
Artists like U2, Jay-Z, Coldplay, The Killers and The Police have
backed a new online magazine called Redwire which supports Aids
projects in Africa.
Subscribers will pay £4 a month for four exclusive tracks with half of
the proceeds going to Bono's Red charity.
The initiative coincides with World Aids Day.
MSN.com is also streaming one song per hour to mark the launch,
including a John Legend cover of Bob Marley's Redemption song.
The U2 frontman founded Red, an activist organisation which supports
HIV-infected people in Africa, back in 2007.
Red international chief executive Seb Bishop told BBC 6 Music: "There
is a brand new song from U2, John Legend singing Redemption Song by
Bob Marley. We've got The Killers and Neil Tennant and Elton John.
"We've got Jay-Z doing something, Kid Rock, The Police, Death Cab For
Cutie and Coldplay. I can't tell you everything because otherwise it's
going to spoil the trick but everyone should get on board."
Another live video track which has appeared on MSN is The Police and
Elvis Costello performing Watching The Detectives.
Speaking about why big name acts have got involved, Bishop continued:
"The important point with Red is that from that £4 you pay every
month, £2 goes directly to Africa and the other £2 also goes to the
artists and the music company.
"So, they're still making money so they are more willing to give us
tracks and obviously the user consumer gets exclusive content which is
incredible.
"This is the third time that The Killers have given us a track around
World Aids Day so they're big, big supporters."
Bishop is not worried whether the economic downturn will affect
whether people will sign up.
"78% of consumers are more likely to buy the music if there is a cause
attached to it," he said.
"If you think about the amount of music that you're going to get for
that £4, every week you get four pieces of exclusive content, and then
also we show where some of the money is going in Africa and where some
of the benefits are going."
Red is 'cool'
Last-minute.<WBR>com co-founder Brent Hoberman, who is behind the
initiative, is confident that people will subscribe and spend their
money.
He explained: "I think there's an authenticity about it and I think,
because they've got Bono, he's able to get amazing artists behind it.
"I think that also gives that credibility in the public's mind that
they will be able to get great music and that by buying this music,
through this Redwire distribution channel, they'll help save lives in
Africa."
Hoberman also claimed it might appeal to the conscience of an illegal
music downloader: "A lot of people who do download, even pirated
music, they're beginning to feel a bit guilty about it, so I think
that this will totally counteract that feeling.
"They will think, 'Well, not only am I doing the right thing, but also
some of that money is going to help lives in Africa.' So I think there
is a positive feeling about it.
"And also Red's doing a good job of being, and it's a terribly
overused word, cool."
<WBR>
|
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
First 
