Songs of Innocence is the latest album from U2. Last month Apple and U2 signed a deal which gives the album for free to iCloud users; however a number of users complained about the Songs of Innocence Album being downloaded to their device without their permission. Apple replied by letting users remove the U2 album with a single click and they even set up a support website just to assist users in removing the unwanted U2 songs.
In a U2 video interview, one Facebook user submitted a plea to the Irish band to stop releasing from albums that iTunes automatically downloads on playlists. After reading it, a sad faced Bono apologized. He said that his band may have "been carried away" with the idea of offering their Songs of Innocence album for free in iTunes. He added that a mixture of megalomania, generosity, self promotion and fear have prompted them to gave their Songs of Innocence for free.
Despite the complaints, more 26 million iTunes users downloaded the free Songs of Innocence album. Over 81 million users have listened to the album during its promotion. The U2 album was made free for iTunes users to download from September 9 until October 13 this year.
Despite the seeming bad publicity, Apple and U2 may have obtained their objective. Apple Vice President Eddy Cue explains that prior to the free U2 album release; around 14 million users have downloaded U2 music from iTunes since 2003. The free Songs of Innocence album has exposed many iTunes users to the music of U2. Both the tech company giant and Irish band see this as a win-win situation and those iTunes users who have downloaded the free U2 album may also see this as a "win" situation for them.
The Songs of Innocence album will not be the last joint project of Apple and U2. The band members confirmed that they are currently working on with Apple on projects that will innovate and change the way people play and listened to music.
