Gigs & Bytes: How To Dismantle An Internet Leak

U2 manager Paul McGuinness has been getting his fair share of press lately, mostly for accusing Internet service providers of being somewhat responsible for music piracy, saying ISPs have “turned their heads the other way,” when it comes to illegal downloading. But the man who has guided U2 through its remarkable career didn’t have to look very far when a few tracks from the band’s upcoming album appeared on the Net.

All he had to do was talk to Bono.

Apparently the U2 frontman was listening to the tracks in his holiday home in the south of France. And, just like the amplification at one of the band’s shows, he likes his music loud.

So loud in fact that a fan, upon hearing the tracks blasting from Bono’s villa, was able to record the tunes on his cell phone and post the unreleased tunes on YouTube, according to Reuters.

Although the sound clips, described as poor quality and containing sounds of waves and seagulls in the background, were removed from the video Web site, the tracks continue to circulate on the Net as another example of not being able to stuff that genie back into the bottle.

On the other hand, the unplanned viral distribution of the songs will no doubt further fans’ interest in the upcoming release, thereby proving that sometimes you really can have it both ways.