During yesterday's Super Bowl broadcast, a new ad featuring rock group U2 announced that Bank of America would donate $1 to (Product) RED's fight against AIDS for every free iTunes download of the band's new single "Invisible" [Direct Link]. The promotion will be active until 11:59 PM EST on February 3.
Product (RED) was co-founded by U2 lead signer Bono and activist Bobby Shriver in 2006, with Apple raising more than $65 million for the charity since then through special products. Last year, one-of-a-kind products designed by Apple's senior vice president of design Jony Ive and designer Marc Newson were sold off at Sotheby's charity auction to benefit Product (RED), which raised over $13 million.
(Product) RED is also affiliated with several other companies in addition to Apple, including American Express, Nike, and Starbucks, raising more than $200 million to date.
Top Rated Comments
I'd prefer a free song from Katy Perry. Bono is a bit of a dick.
"A song from Katy Perry" is a contradiction of terms.And if you can be a dick, as your post clearly shows, I believe Bono is entitled to be one too.
I'd prefer a free song from Katy Perry. Bono is a bit of a dick.
First, I love U2. Have since "October"
I wouldn't call Bono a dick. Pompous? Certainly. But he certainly is passionate about helping people, putting his own money where his mouth is, too, as well as using his celebrity to raise money and awareness.
Done. Don't even really care for the music but it's a small thing to do that might help someone.
Same here. My wife loves the band so that will be two more.
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that.
but also, i think the whole "Red" thing is throwing money away, instead of putting it to good use. instead of using the money towards research to find a cure, they'd rather hand medicine to HIV women so they can get pregnant with some sort of ease-of-mind, that the baby's condition will be taken care of.
Yeah because everyone suffering from HIV thinks exactly like that. Or is this some sort of slight against the entire movement to help treat poor people in Africa instead of lining the pockets of Americans to help develop a cure that will most likely be out of the reach of folks suffering in Africa?
...and then Bank of America only pledging to donate $1 per download, up to $2 million.
Actually, it's up to $8 million.
First, I love U2. Have since "October"
I wouldn't call Bono a dick. Pompous? Certainly. But he certainly is passionate about helping people, putting his own money where his mouth is, too, as well as using his celebrity to raise money and awareness.
I don't know. The rock career is long over and this new gig raising money for needy pharmaceutical companies kind of creeps me out.
At one end you have people donating money, and at the other, really needy sick people and that sounds OK, until you think about the millions for big pharma in the middle.
Look around the www, researchers say it's almost impossible to find out where the money is going. 1% to the needy, >50% on salaries? RED is a business not a charity. It's more about awareness Eww.
I know someone who went to school with him and I think the consensus was, he was always a bit of a dick. Just add money and fame.
I'm more than happy to 'take' the bank's money, but looking around, I get the uneasy feeling, I'm not making much of a difference.
It might be The Edge you were thinking of admiring.