Popmartijn
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And suddenly it all makes (more) sense to me...
AtU2.com has some articles up mentioning that U2 is going to leave Island Records.
http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=4402
Apparently they're unsatisfied with the way the executives are running the label (and how their relationship is with the band).
The new record label will be Mercury (also part of the Universal music group, so in a way I'm wondering how much things will change). Since U2 owns all their masters and publishing rights, their whole back catalogue will be re-released on Mercury (apart from 2 exceptions, maybe). There were some signals this was happening in November and I guess this is the reason. I doubt they'll be remastered (or expanded) though.
And now the new Best Of also makes sense to me, although it's still superfluous from my fan point of view. It's just something the band can give to the new label, so it can earn some money with the new contract.
Because as I said there are exceptions to the back catalogue going to Mercury. I can remember around the time the first Best Of was announced (so the 80-90 one), that it would be released exclusively through Island Records, even if the band would move to another label. Now, that record deal for the Best Of compilations originally called for 3 Best Ofs and in the meantime there has been a new recording contract between U2 and Island covering everything (see another story at atu2.com:
http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=4280 ). Still, I can imagine this being true until today. So the 2 original Best Ofs will remain on Island. Since they're still selling respectably, it's understandable that Mercury wants a Best Of of their own. It means a steady stream of profit.
AtU2.com has some articles up mentioning that U2 is going to leave Island Records.
http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=4402
Apparently they're unsatisfied with the way the executives are running the label (and how their relationship is with the band).
The new record label will be Mercury (also part of the Universal music group, so in a way I'm wondering how much things will change). Since U2 owns all their masters and publishing rights, their whole back catalogue will be re-released on Mercury (apart from 2 exceptions, maybe). There were some signals this was happening in November and I guess this is the reason. I doubt they'll be remastered (or expanded) though.
And now the new Best Of also makes sense to me, although it's still superfluous from my fan point of view. It's just something the band can give to the new label, so it can earn some money with the new contract.
Because as I said there are exceptions to the back catalogue going to Mercury. I can remember around the time the first Best Of was announced (so the 80-90 one), that it would be released exclusively through Island Records, even if the band would move to another label. Now, that record deal for the Best Of compilations originally called for 3 Best Ofs and in the meantime there has been a new recording contract between U2 and Island covering everything (see another story at atu2.com:
http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=4280 ). Still, I can imagine this being true until today. So the 2 original Best Ofs will remain on Island. Since they're still selling respectably, it's understandable that Mercury wants a Best Of of their own. It means a steady stream of profit.