Peter Gabriel pushing the envelope

I have always liked Peter Gabriel's intelligence and taste. I like some of his music although his songs often sound to me like a riff on something he has already done. No matter, Fred Goodman of the New York Times does a very nice article on Mr. Gabriel's prowess as a music industry visionary and investor.

TheFilter.com is another online service that recommends new, unfamiliar music to users. The technology may vary from site to site but the idea is very similar to the software designed at the University of Minnesota at MovieLens.org. The article by Mr. Goodman is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/business/media/10peter.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin

The Manager and U2

Neil McCormack of the Independent in Dublin, Ireland has a nice article sketching the business model of the band, U2. The tone is a little breathy, but it points the reader in many interesting directions (e.g. U2's manager is Paul McGuinness; he articulates an oft-repeated idea that artists are now taking on the role that record companies used to play).
Managers are an incredibly important part of a popular band's success. This article offers a glimpse into the importance of Paul McGuinness in U2's success.

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/how-u2-have-stayed-on-top-of-the-world-1445208.html