With all that taken into account, think back to one of 2008′s most celebrated albums, Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, which sold a staggering 721,207 copies its first week on the market last June. So why did the undisputed biggest band in the world, U2, fall so far behind their chums from across the pond? Some might blame the economy, as entertainment is easily the first thing cut from budgets in hard times and we’ve seen the sharpest edge of the recession thus far between the two album’s releases. Others would blame UMG’s Austrailian division for leaking U2′s album early, causing a flurry of U2 fans to rush to their nearest torrent host to get a sneak peak. Many would cite that CD sales have been on the decline with each passing year, so a the biggest album of 2009 will undoubtedly sell less than the biggest album of 2008.

Could it be simply be that Coldplay has usurped U2 as the biggest band in the world? Are album sales a fair indicator as to a band’s complete success, or is there something unspoken that makes the great bands great? As far as media presence and legacy, the clear answer would be that U2 has maintained their throne. We didn’t see Coldplay on Letterman for a week straight, playing a live concert on GMA, or even shifting people’s faith to the degree that Bono does. All Coldplay had was a little iTunes commercial and a slew of controversy over their hit single, but that seemed to be enough to yield nearly 300,000 more album sales. Maybe it’s Apple. Let’s not forget that the biggest selling album by U2 in their first week, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, was featured in a similar iTunes commercial to Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, and released along with a custom U2 iPod and the like. This album had a lot of other hype, but no iTunes commercial. Obviously, that could be nothing more than a coincidence, but it does beg the question as to what type of media saturation is most effective.

So what gives? What makes a great band, is it album sales, ticket sales, social significance?

Your turn:

Is It U2, Or Just The Economy? is a post from: wax&wires

Just finished watching these guys on the Late Show, a little band you might have heard of… and a little media blitz you’ve definitely heard of.

I suspected that this would be the Tuesday deal of the day, and sure enough, here it is.

U2′s new album, No Line On The Horizon for $3.99.

U2 – No Line On The Horizon

Wax Pick: U2 – No Line On The Horizon is a post from: wax&wires

Clearly, this will go one of two ways, though I’ve not the slightest inclination as to which. Taymor did a brilliant job with Across the Universe, in selecting just the right songs from a massive catalogue to tell a well thought out and linear narrative. Bono and The Edge have had their ups and downs with regards to hits over the past few decades. All the pieces are there to make something incredible. All the hype and heightened expectations are there to make something dreadful too.

It all begs the question, how deep into the nerdery are the two living legends? I don’t recall seeing them at Comicon last year… We can all hope they don’t botch any story consistencies between the comic book pages and stage, but the press release quotes don’t have me too confident.

Spider-Man’s battles will hurtle the audience through an origin story both recognizable and unexpected—yielding new characters as well as familiar faces—until a final surprising confrontation casts a startling new light on this hero’s journey.

It will be interesting to see the direction of the project; whether it will go for a more tongue-in-cheek presentation like a Spamalot, Wicked or Xanadu, or if would actually attempt to present itself as a serious drama, like Across the Universe did.

Perhaps the bigger question is: what would drive two of the most successful musicians in history, off the heels of a new album, to spend their time on a Broadway play destined to be the content of future trivia questions? Money? Curiosity? Press hype? You tell me.

Spiderman The Musical… Featuring U2 is a post from: wax&wires

U2′s yet-to-be-released album, No Line on the Horizon, is already available on P2P networks across the Internet thanks to a leak that the band is always so adamantly working to prevent. Considering U2′s views on piracy and Safe Harbor, the leak is both poetic justice and confirmation of the band’s fears.

What’s the worst thing that could happen to a band that is adamantly pro-DRM and anti-filesharing? Having an unreleased album leaked all over the Internet, of course, and by one of the Big Four labels to boot. U2′s upcoming album, No Line on the Horizon, is slated for release on March 3, but it’s already available on numerous filesharing sites and P2P networks thanks to the accidental posting of the album by Universal’s Australian branch.

Read the full story.

Upcoming U2 Album All Over P2P After Band’s Label Screws Up is a post from: wax&wires

Amazon crushed it this week with 5 great albums for just $5 each. The theme is “first albums.”

Though technically, U2′s Boy was released after their Irish debut Three, Boy was their first international release and the album that broke them into the scene. None of these releases are my absolute favorite albums by these artists, I would take Kind of Blue over Birth of the Cool, IV over Led Zeppelin, and Joshua Tree over Boy. Nonetheless they are great looks into bands that have undeniably shaped the face of music for the rest of us. It also goes to show that even the greatest of bands take an album or two to find their groove.

Something also has to be said for Miles Davis’ album titles. He has got to have the monopoly on hip album names or something. Kind of Blue, Bitches Brew and though Birth of the Cool wasn’t titled as such until later, that’s such a bold statement to make. It’s like the guy at the party that shows up and says, “Start the party, I’m here” only Davis wasn’t a tool. It was, in fact, saying just that though; cool did not exist until Miles Davis laid it down.

When you look at the albums’ release dates, it’s astounding to consider what these pioneers were each doing in their own time. Boy was released in 1980, Birth of the Cool recorded in 1949, nobody was doing what these artists were doing in their respective eras. We’ve now seen the legacies that each of these bands have left, but would we have seen it coming at the time? Who are some artists in this day and age that we’ll credit with reshaping music when we look back in 20, 30, or even 50 years?

Check out the albums here and like I always say, get your roots right:

U2 – Boy
Miles Davis – Birth of the Cool
The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground & Nico
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin
Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures

Wax Picks: Friday $5 Picks is a post from: wax&wires

This is an unprecidented event for the Late Show, and should be a good opportunity to catch some of the new tracks from U2′s new album, No Line On The Horizon, which releases that week (of course). I’m sure the band is hoping to generate buzz about the forthcoming tour with the added press as well, though I don’t know how they could sell anymore tickets than “sold out,” which it’s sure to be.

The band rocked the first single, Get on Your Boots, at the Grammy Awards this past Sunday.

Set your DVRs, and get ready for a U2 media blitz!

U2 To Perform For A FULL WEEK On Letterman is a post from: wax&wires

Check it out the entire list of albums here, and fill out your collection. Definitely pick up the Joshua Tree (Deluxe Edition) if you don’t already have it. There’s a full bonus disc that comes with it that definitely wasn’t included in my original copy of the album, and that’s my favorite U2 album without question.

I’m not sure how long the sale’s on, but enjoy it while it lasts!

U2 Albums On Sale At Amazon is a post from: wax&wires

From U2.com:

No Line On The Horizon will be available in five formats;

– LP vinyl – limited edition with 2 black vinyl discs, gatefold sleeve, and a 16 page booklet.

Here’s the track listing:

1. No Line On The Horizon
2. Magnificent
3. Moment of Surrender
4. Unknown Caller
5. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
6. Get On Your Boots
7. Stand Up Comedy
8. Fez – Being Born
9. White As Snow
10. Breathe
11. Cedars Of Lebanon

You can support wax&wires if you pre-order the album for $9.99 here, the Box Set (CD/Poster/Book/DVD) for $66.49 here, or the 2 LP Vinyl for $17.98 here.

Details On U2′s New Album Release is a post from: wax&wires

U2 Releases First Single From “No Line On The Horizon” is a post from: wax&wires

Nineteen artists from across genres, including Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Herbie Hancock, Usher, Shakira, and Sheryl Crow, are scheduled to appear at We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. Queen Latifah, along with Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III and Denzel Washington, will give historical readings at the event.

The We Are One opening celebration opens a four-day schedule of Inaugural events that will include 10 official Inaugural Balls, as well as an Inauguration-Day-eve youth concert at the Verizon Center.

A number of other music events celebrating Obama’s Inauguration are being planned to take place around Washington D.C. as well, including the Beastie Boys and Sheryl Crow headlining a “Hey, America Feels Kinda Cool Again” event on Jan. 19 at the 9:30 club; WAR and Marc Anthony appearing at the Latino Inaugural Gala at Union Station on Jan. 18; Jay-Z Jan. 19 at the Warner Theatre; and Bela Fleck and Wynton Marsalis performing at CNN’s Inaugural event on Jan. 19 at the Kennedy Center.

Here is the initial music lineup for “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial”:

Beyonce
Mary J. Blige
Bono
Garth Brooks
Sheryl Crow
Renee Fleming
Josh Groban
Herbie Hancock
Heather Headley
John Legend
Jennifer Nettles
John Mellencamp
Usher Raymond IV
Shakira
Bruce Springsteen
James Taylor
will.i.am
Stevie Wonder

[via Billboard.com]

Bono, Bruce, Beyonce To Play Inaugural Concert is a post from: wax&wires

Ever since the advent of the digital ticket, we’ve been seeing problems with ticket counterfeit and illegal duplication. Now people seem to be falsifying tickets to shows that don’t even exist yet, rather than simply printing out multiple copies of their tickets to sell as we’ve seen in years past.

From U2.com:

07.01.2009
Rumours (Unfounded)

Just a note to correct some online information suggesting that tickets are available for U2 shows this summer. No tickets are available and no shows have been announced.

You can be sure any future live announcements will be made on U2.Com as soon as details are confirmed.

Here’s your warning, don’t get burned!

U2 To Fans: “Don’t Get Stung” is a post from: wax&wires

The Edge is no stranger to guitar pioneering, having single handedly trademarked the delay-driven guitar sound.

You can find out more about It Might Get Loud here.

For more info on U2′s upcoming album, check out the Rolling Stone article here.

The Edge Pulls Inspiration from Jack White and Jimmy Page For U2′s Upcoming Release is a post from: wax&wires

Are you kidding me?! I’ve been trying not to inundate you with too many Wax Picks, but I couldn’t pass this one up. 18 of U2′s best songs on sale for $3.99. If you don’t already own their entire catalogue, pick this up from Amazon to get a jump start on the classics.

U2 – U218 Singles

Wax Pick: U2 – U218 Singles is a post from: wax&wires