Regina O'Numb
War Child
U2 forgoes song's royalties to help Nebraska charity.
BY CHRISTINE LAUE.
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER.
The world-famous rock band U2 has granted permission to a Nebraska nonprofit group to use its Grammy-award-winning song "Beautiful Day" in radio and TV ads without having to pay royalty fees.
The move comes as corporations are paying millions for the rights to play big-time musicians' songs in commercials. Jaguar reportedly paid $8 million to air a commercial with Sting's "Desert Rose."
The song is used in radio and TV spots for the Nebraska Organ and Tissue Donor Coalition. The ads, which began airing Tuesday, feature Chris Klug, who won the bronze medal in snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics just 18 months after receiving a liver transplant.
Brian Hamburger, chairman of the coalition's board, wrote the proposal seeking the band's permission and sent it to a Chicago contact who has worked with U2.
"She took it and put it in the right people's hands," Hamburger said. "I am told that they had to take it directly to the band. It's really quite stunning for them to help Nebraska."
U2 is widely known for its support of a range of worldwide charities.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=1458&u_sid=1002119
BY CHRISTINE LAUE.
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER.
The world-famous rock band U2 has granted permission to a Nebraska nonprofit group to use its Grammy-award-winning song "Beautiful Day" in radio and TV ads without having to pay royalty fees.
The move comes as corporations are paying millions for the rights to play big-time musicians' songs in commercials. Jaguar reportedly paid $8 million to air a commercial with Sting's "Desert Rose."
The song is used in radio and TV spots for the Nebraska Organ and Tissue Donor Coalition. The ads, which began airing Tuesday, feature Chris Klug, who won the bronze medal in snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics just 18 months after receiving a liver transplant.
Brian Hamburger, chairman of the coalition's board, wrote the proposal seeking the band's permission and sent it to a Chicago contact who has worked with U2.
"She took it and put it in the right people's hands," Hamburger said. "I am told that they had to take it directly to the band. It's really quite stunning for them to help Nebraska."
U2 is widely known for its support of a range of worldwide charities.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=1458&u_sid=1002119