U2 manager nails Internet providers as piracy culprits

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

CANNES, France (AFP) — Paul McGuinness, U2's manager for three decades, says it's time for Internet service providers to play a part in the war on music piracy and share their profits with the people who make the music.

"Their snouts have been at our trough feeding free for too long," the manager of the best-selling group told a conference at this week's MIDEM trade fair, the music industry's largest annual gathering.

With digital revenue from music not catching up fast enough to offset falls in CD sales, the music industry sees illegal downloads as a major culprit in its widening crisis.

"ISPs (Internet service providers), Telcos and tech companies have enjoyed a bonanza in the last few years off the back of recorded music content," McGuinness added. "It is...