Dear Bono (1 Viewer)

[Kermit McDermott]

I got it there. It's the only full album I've ever downloaded from itunes. Listened to first few songs....it's okay. U2 were always blatantly ambitious, that's not a very irish trait. Pre loading the album, they've over stepped the mark a bit, especially in the US. They'll probably see that as socialist. The guns will be out over that.

 

[therealjohnny]

I had forgotten I had an iTunes account and was bemused to find I'd been given this album. Like receiving my first 'like' on facebook, it means I'm now involved. High five fellow cybernauts!

'New Years Day' came on the radio the other day. I love that tune. Such a stark contrast to what the band have become.

 

[rettucs]

I had forgotten I had an iTunes account and was bemused to find I'd been given this album. Like receiving my first 'like' on facebook, it means I'm now involved. High five fellow cybernauts!

I still haven't gotten my copy

 

[therealjohnny]

you can have mine

 

[rettucs]

you can have mine

nah, thanks anyway

 

[Lili Marlene]

I haven't checked if mine is there yet.

as punishment Apple deleted all my contacts from my iphone.

 

[therealjohnny]

Did they replace your contacts with the U2 member's numbers?

 

[Lili Marlene]

Did they replace your contacts with the U2 member's numbers?

the only fucking number that was left was @scutter's

nightmare

 

[rettucs]

the only fucking number that was left was @scutter's

nightmare

I hacked yer phone and did that.

check yer pics!

 

[Hector Grey]

You could argue U2 stopped with the decent music 20 years ago, if you were generous enough to concede there was once decent music, but in that time Bono has just become immeasurably richer. Wealthier than a castle full of Jeffrey Archers and Dan Browns. So he must think the money is some kind of reward for being super-duper. Well, who are we to argue. Bono could have us all killed without creasing the leather on his wallet. Maybe you'd want to keep it down a bit.

 

[7 - No tomorrow]

There were ads for the record all day yesterday during the NFL broadcasts

 

[ann post]

Never mind that, they seemed to have embedded themselves in GAA coverage too.

 

[Hector Grey]

Why advertise something that's already been given away for free?

 

[ann post]

Why advertise something that's already been given away for free?

because of lifelong highlights replay royalties, at a guess.

 

[7 - No tomorrow]

Branding or something.

The whole thing is just pre-cum for a tour, you'd have to think.

Isn't that how they make their serious coin?

 

[7 - No tomorrow]

I didn't realise the figures were so high. That's almost a billion dollars.
Seems off.

Free U2 album: How the most generous giveaway in music history turned PR disaster - Features - Music - The Independent

U2 have saved around £500m after redomiciling a share of band income to the Netherlands in 2006.

 

[Jim Daniels]

In fairness, U2 didn't give their album away for free. They sold the rights to Apple for $100m, who then gave it away for free. I know we all know this, but still...

Aside from the €100m, U2 got a massive global platform for the album, but also for their name/ brand.
That was very clever from a business point of view. Nine U2 albums re-entered the I-Tunes top ten after the new album became available. Nine! Not sure what Apple really got out of the whole deal.

NME News Nine U2 albums re-enter iTunes Top 100 after release of 'Songs Of Innocence' | NME.COM

 

[ann post]

There is always a tide of emerging fuckwits with too much money and a hatred for music to surf on.

 

[7 - No tomorrow]

NME News Nine U2 albums re-enter iTunes Top 100 after release of 'Songs Of Innocence' | NME.COM

The Independent piece paints it a little differently

The giveaway download reduced music to “plain spam” and had generated just 6,700 sales from U2’s back catalogue, he added.

 

[therealjohnny]

♫"Is it getting better...or do you feel the same?"♫

I just wanted to post this cool gif