Some sunny days you wish it was raining Home Irish stars split over Mp3 debate By Andrew Beeston, Interference.com news In what seems to be a repeat of the disputes erupting around the illegal copying of music on to audio tape in the mid 70’s to 80’s there has become a new dispute involving the digital audio format Mp3. Fellow Irish bands U2 and The Corrs have decidedly different views over the matter of illegal copying of music over the Internet. As European spokespersons for the IFPI, an organization representing record companies since June, the Corrs have condemned the illegal pirating of music over the Internet. Sharon Corr is quoted as saying about the issue “When it comes down to it, people are selling it for nothing close to the value of it.” “It is basically theft.” Fellow Corr and brother Jim says “Most people would not dream of stealing a CD from their local record store. In the same way, we don’t think it’s cool to go to cyber shoplifting.” However U2, one of the most influential bands in the music industry, differ quite strongly on the matter. In response to the debate Bono told the American music trade magazine Billboard, “My feeling is that it’s cool for people to share our music ­ as long as no-one is making money from the process. We tell people who come to our concerts that they can tape the show if they want.” “I think it’s cool that people are so passionate about our music ­ especially about this new album, quite honestly.” With the greatly anticipated upcoming U2 album “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” (available, October 31st) many people are itching to get their hands on the new music. This has brought a series of web sites to leak the new music in its entirety to happily awaiting fans over the Internet. While debate rages on between record companies and music fans about the amount of profit won or lost from the illegal pirating of artists music with millions of Mp3’s being downloaded each day, The Edge embraces the technology with a whiff of excitement. “It’s new, it’s out there, let’s see where it goes, figure out how to get paid later,” Media / Discography / History / Interact / Pictures / Guitar / Information / Tours / Links / Search