U2's 'Songs of Innocence' Accessed Over 33 Million Times Since Start of iTunes Promotion

Six days after it began offering U2's latest album "Songs of Innocence" for free to 500 million iTunes customers, Apple has announced (via the Associated Press) that over 33 million customers have accessed the record.

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In a statement, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software and Services Eddy Cue called the numbers record-breaking, and said that the numbers include users who downloaded the album from their iTunes account, streamed it, or used iTunes Radio to listen to it.

Earlier this morning, Apple also released a tool for customers to delete the U2 album off of their iTunes accounts, as some users were upset with it being added to their devices without their knowledge.

Last Friday, it was reported that Songs of Innocence was downloaded 2 million times after three days of being made available. The album will be free for iTunes customers until October 13.

Top Rated Comments

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dannys1

71 months ago

I want to know how many used the tool to banish it from their iTunes account forever like me...

Rating: 13 Votes

macs4nw

71 months ago

Contrary to a lot of negative comments in the last week, by October 13, this album will reside on more storage/iTunes devices, than U2 could have ever dreamt to have albums downloaded thru the iTunes Store, the old fashioned way, in addition to streaming, etc.

U2 got the deal of a lifetime out of this. I know I'm probably in the minority here but, Thanks Tim!

Rating: 8 Votes

fitshaced

71 months ago

for whom tho? U2 i can get but Apple? When i saw how much Apple paid U2 i was shocked as i thought U2 would be the one having to pay apple to use their platform as promotion

For both, obviously. People using iTunes and iTunes Radio more. When more and more people are using Spotify, Pandora etc, this is a
Clever way to bring some of that back.

Also, it's a free album that comes with no catch. Other companies might have expected you to sign up for some spam or an opt out subscription.

Don't be fooled by the U2 haters. There are plenty if U2 fans that want this album and plenty of closet U2 fans.

Rating: 8 Votes

fitshaced

71 months ago

People failing to see how successful this promotion was is laughable. That's U2 laughing all the way to the bank.

Also, fantastic album. California (There is no end to love) is a superb track.

Rating: 8 Votes

newyorksole

71 months ago

I wonder if U2 had any inspiration for the album cover ...

Rating: 5 Votes

bushido

71 months ago

"Accessed" it as in the same way Siri gets used so much because half the time its people hitting the siri button on their keyboard by mistake in the middle of class? :P

Rating: 5 Votes

fitshaced

71 months ago

Crap = Not very good.
Out of touch = Tims buddys up on stage. Music hardly anybody these days has heard of.

(An opinion, granted).

Music hardly anyone these days has heard of. Right, other than the whole internet over the past week, U2's massive tour attendances, massive album sales. Other than that you mean?

Crap would define it's not suitable for listening to. Yet, many people love it. Your opinion in it doesn't make it crap. It just means your small mind doesn't like it.

Rating: 4 Votes

gugy

71 months ago

Weird all this hate about U2.
Their albums are always among the best selling of all time and tours all sold out for so many years. I guess the MR hate folks are a huge minority on this universe.

Rating: 4 Votes