Music News

U2 leave Island to move to Mercury

By M&C News Oct 9, 2006, 15:54 GMT

After more than 20 years together, Irish rockers U2 have split from their long-time label Island Records to move to Mercury Records – which is part of the Universal Music Group the world’s largest music company.

Us, who have sold more than 150 million albums, made the choice to split from Island following the departure the label’s senior executive Jason Iley – who left to go to Mercury in 2005, according to a Universal spokeswoman.

The band’s first studio album ‘Boy’ saw success with hit singles like "I Will Follow." They saw even greater success with the release of 1987’s ‘The Joshua Tree’ which saw hit singles Where the Streets Have No Name," "With or Without You," and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Their latest release, 2004’s ‘How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb,’ featured the singles "Vertigo," "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own," and "All Because of You."
 
Reports that the band was unhappy with Island’s "hands-off approach"  to the group have been denied.