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Bono Takes on File Sharing, Medicine and More in New York Times Column

BonoBono has never been afraid to share his opinion. When the New York Times invited the U2 frontman to write a column for the newspaper's Editorials and Opinion page, he was definitely up for the challenge.

With the popularity for "best of" lists at the end of each year (or in 2009's case, decade), Bono decided to make up one of his own. "We have been stuffed full of them," he wrote. "Even in these self-restrained pages, it has been impossible to avoid the end-of-the-decade accountings of the 10 best such-and-suches and the 10 worst fill-in-the-blanks. And so, in the spirit of rockstar excess, I offer yet another."

But instead of looking at the past, Bono decided to whip out his crystal ball and create a list of 10 ideas that he feels "might make the next 10 years more interesting, healthy or civil." Tackling the US auto industry, the environment and even medical discoveries, Bono explains how each can improve while still admitting that he may not be the most knowledgeable about the topics, such as Dr. William Li's research on generating new blood vessels.

Although he gets political, the column also touches on his views of the music industry, especially file sharing. "A decade's worth of music file-sharing and swiping has made clear that people it hurts are the creators," Bono said. "In this case, the young fledgling songwriters who can't live off ticket and T-shirt sales like the least sympathetic among us -- and the people this reverse Robin Hooding benefits are rich service providers, whose swollen profits perfectly mirror the lost receipts of the music business."

Even though the idea of "Peace in the Middle East" may have been reduced to just a witty saying these days, Bono formulated the idea of using a yearly arts festival to bring Judaism, Christianity and Islam together and put host the first one in Jerusalem.

While Bono's optimism reaches new heights in the New York Times article, it'll be interesting to see if any of his ideas will turn into reality or another excuse to bash U2.

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4 Comments

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Tony

I agree about the illegal downloading. Bono seems to be adressing new young artists and songwriters not his established band. Pay for your music its stealing no different than taking anything else and not paying. What gives us the right ?

January 04 2010 at 11:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
chad

maybe u2 should consider lowering their ticket prices to a reasonable price so we can actually afford to buy their cd's.

January 04 2010 at 5:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to chad's comment
alittlemoremod

Actually, I saw them front row in Raleigh in October for $55. Nosebleed Coldplay tickets = $75. Also, No Line on the Horizon costs $8 at Wal-mart. Crazy expensive.

January 07 2010 at 6:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
charles

Gee Bono man, I thought you were one of us. You got to spread the wealth dude. There's nothin wrong with a little file share. You're sounding like one of them rich dudes who thinks its wrong to take from them and give to those of us who don't have anything. You're not gettin hurt. I need my music man and I can't afford to pay for it myself. Just spread the wealth and back off the censorship and control freak button. Spread the wealth man. Peace...

January 04 2010 at 5:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply