New TOUR [All rumours / news here]

Originally posted by ahn1991:The trouble is not the competition. The trouble is with radio and the way they do rankings.

99.9% of what people will generally consider to be the "Top 40" is garbage. All garbage. Also, 100% of what is generally considered to be the "Top 40" are ALL songs of the Pop genre. Coldplay, Muse, The Killers, and U2 are often overlooked by radio stations because they know that the only people listening to radio are teens and most teens have crappy musical tastes (no offense, but seriously).

But perhaps the main issue is that since 2001, more specific radio stations have emerged. They figure that rather than play all genres of music, it's better to play music from all the same genre (or rather they play the same 10 songs over and over again). Given this new paradigm, the only way to really get onto a radio station is to produce something that sounds very similar to the other songs being played on the radio. This moves on to another small point in that most Top 40 songs sound exactly identical in terms of style and content. The radio industry as it is now does not promote innovation and ingenuity.

I think U2 needs to forget about trying to be played on the radio because it's a fruitless ordeal that can sometimes leave artists stuck in the studio pumping out one mediocre track after another. I can guarantee that if I only listened to Top 40 stations, I would never hear any rock songs whatsoever. Forget the radio. It's honestly got no worth nowadays.

U2 should strive for recognition within their own genre. That would be best rock track, etc. Album sales are another good benchmark for them, but I think their tour numbers will be the biggest indicator of their influence of all. Looking at all those numbers, there's no reason for the band to think that NLOTH or the 360 Tour failed in any sense of the word.

Originally posted by aussiemofo:I sort of agree with all points made after me. I still think a hit rock song is a possibility. It's funny how influential talent shows around the world have been on charts. I'm aware of the challenges. Coldplay proved that you can still have commercial success with individual songs with Paradise last year and it doesnt necessarily have to be a radio fave but look at how that song is flogged in other media, tv shows, films etc. Look Vertigo really wasn't that long ago either. I don't think we're talking about a bygone era, not just yet anyhow. If any 'old' band can do it, it's U2. They are still admired with enormous nostalgia amongst casual and big fans alike and that buzz I think can pass down to younger generations. I am still dumbfounded by their decision to release Boots first. What a bad way to get a new album out of the blocks. Breathe or No Line would have been a much better first taste and I think if they had their time again they may have given it a second thought.

Originally posted by tallaro97:HAI RAGIONE I RAGAZZI DI OGGI ASCOLTANO CANZONI DI MERDA CANZONI SENZA SENZO. FORZA U2 FATE UN NUOVO ALBUM

Originally posted by KieranU2:[..]

Eh, Ronnie, translate?

Originally posted by KieranU2:I should really get learning Italian!

Thanks for that, Julien.