U2's free iTunes album downloaded 26 million times, but the offer ends October 14
The controversial way that Apple offered a free new album from U2 in September didn't stop a ton of people from downloading it. In an interview this week, Eddy Cue, Apple's senior VP of internet software and services, said that the Songs of Innocence album has been downloaded 26 million times in full on iTunes since its release on September 9.
In addition, Cue told Billboard that 81 million people have heard songs from the U2 album since its release on Apple's services, including iTunes, iTunes Radio and Beats Music. He added, "Prior to this, 14 million customers had purchased music from U2 since the opening of the iTunes Store in 2003."
The free ride for Songs of Innocence is over on October 14. That's when a physical CD will go on sale with 10 extra tracks that are not part of the free iTunes release. Are you happy or sad the free download will end in a few days?
Source: Billboard
Reader comments
U2's free iTunes album downloaded 26 million times, but the offer ends October 14
And I'm sure that at least 10 of those were intentional lol
How much of that was in automatic downloads?
Also, Dragon Age: Origins is a free download until the 14th of their site, and I believe it's Mac compatible.
Posted via the 5s I'm not ashamed of using in my home.
I'll be purchasing the CD. Long live physical media!
I downloaded the album as soon as it showed up in my iCloud. It's a great album. Reminds me of some of their classic stuff from the 80s and beyond.
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Exactly what I said. The Miracle is a solid tune. The Troubles is growing on me too.
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First U2 album I've listened to. And I liked it. The more you listen the better it gets. I've think that some songs are inspired by the Beatles.
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Will it still show up on iTunes as available to download without purchasing after the 14th if I have to do a restore of my phone since it'll be already on my phone prior to a restore?
Roland
Yes. It'll fall under your purchased music on iTunes.
https://twitter.com/RealAdamRose/status/512980906491932675
I'm enjoying it, thank you.
Yes I'm sad that the album won't be available for free in a few days but at least I have that copy it really good album I really enjoyed it
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I synced my iPhone to my computer, so no big deal. It's also all in iCloud.
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The first song is really good, with a great guitar track. I don't know who Joey Ramone is, but it's a good song. And there are a couple other good songs there.
It was a great promotion. The only "controversy" is that some people who genuinely didn't want it have it so their purchases are automatically downloaded. The whole thing was confusing for me because I do not automatically download music to my iOS devices and I tried and failed to download the album on my Mac when it could only be initially done on an iOS device. That was weird on my end. Good album though. No matter who the artist is, some people are not going to like them.