March 30, 2009

U2 to give tour proceeds to charity

From the Belfast telegraph:


U2 to give €9m of tour profits to charity


Rockers U2 will donate an estimated €9m of their summer tour profits to charity, it was revealed last night.

The artists will give away 100pc of their income from VIP auction ticket sales at up to 100 worldwide concerts.

Up to 600 stage-front tickets per gig are being sold off via auction, with minimum starting bids of between €95 and €1,015.

Every cent band members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr earn from the sale of tickets in the 'Red Zone' will go to charity.

The charity-style partnership Global Fund, which helps fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, will benefit from a large donation.

Other good causes expected to receive payouts are charities focusing on Africa, the core of Bono's campaigning.

U2's precise cut of their concerts' gross takings is a closely guarded secret, but is thought to be upwards of 75pc. Promoter Live Nation also takes a cut, along with the venue.

A U2 spokeswoman said: "All of U2's income raised from the auction of Red Zone tickets will be donated to charity."

No comments:

Post a Comment