Apple gives U2 album away for free...thoughts?

tominzinga
tominzinga Posts: 113
in All Encompassing Trip
Idk if this is the right place to post this but since porch gets the most activity i figured screw it. Im sure most of you heard apple paid U2 for their album and then gave it away free. What does everyone think? With todays dwindling sales I think its great marketing. I mean theyll make a boat load of cash from their tour and whats a better way to promote an album than at an Apple keynote?
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Comments

  • Zod
    Zod Posts: 10,914
    What I was wondering is if every free copy counts as a sale, thus guaranteeing them a #1 album? It's sort of clever. Bands never made that much of albums sales anyways. U2 probably gets a chink for apple then back to its bread and butter of touring.
  • igotid88
    igotid88 Posts: 28,681
    Zod said:

    What I was wondering is if every free copy counts as a sale, thus guaranteeing them a #1 album? It's sort of clever. Bands never made that much of albums sales anyways. U2 probably gets a chink for apple then back to its bread and butter of touring.

    I wonder how they'll count it since ITunes has over 500 million customers. Will it be counted as 500 million or the actual downloads?
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  • buck502000
    buck502000 Birthplace of GIBSON guitar Posts: 8,951
    edited September 2014
    you couldn't pay me to take this one. But I did download the new Radiohead app, which has new music from them.
  • quasi
    quasi Posts: 492
    The one I've been waiting for and a great album...best since Achtung Baby in my opinion. Reminds me of when Radiohead let people pay what they wanted, if anything, for "In Rainbows".
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  • JWPearl
    JWPearl Posts: 19,893
    I like the album but I think it has to grow on me more and more till I know the lyrics well and it becomes part more of my life
  • timbo1972
    timbo1972 Posts: 326
    You may download it for free... guessing it wasn't 'free' to Apple. Surely they paid so others can have free...?
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  • EB218946
    EB218946 Posts: 4,015
    Sweet, thanks U2!
  • EchosNobodyHears
    EchosNobodyHears Posts: 583
    I've never been a huge U2 fan. But based on the articles I've been reading, seems like they needed to give it away for free for people to actually get it ;)
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  • Gibson
    Gibson Chicago Posts: 2,671
    Great album -- I'll still buy a hard copy. Call me old fashioned..
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  • BinFrog
    BinFrog MA Posts: 7,314
    igotid88 said:

    Zod said:

    What I was wondering is if every free copy counts as a sale, thus guaranteeing them a #1 album? It's sort of clever. Bands never made that much of albums sales anyways. U2 probably gets a chink for apple then back to its bread and butter of touring.

    I wonder how they'll count it since ITunes has over 500 million customers. Will it be counted as 500 million or the actual downloads?
    If you go to a record store but do not buy anything, do they count it as a sale?
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  • badbrains
    badbrains Posts: 10,255
    They (U2) def DONT need the money. Bono is worth more then most countries!
  • FrankieG
    FrankieG Abingdon MD Posts: 9,100
    I downloaded it right before bed last night. The first song was good, but haven't had a chance to listen to the rest.

    I am curious baout the 'total album sales' thing and how it will chart considereing nobody actually bought it.. I'm sure they got paid from Apple though.
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  • PP193448
    PP193448 Here Posts: 4,282
    How much did Apple pay U2 to perform at the keynote. Gotta be several million. Still awesome to get a free album from such a great band. Thanks Apple and U2.
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  • Lowlight
    Lowlight Plymouth, MA Posts: 101
    Brilliant idea, both sides win. Apple gets a bunch of new subscribers (people who sign up for Itunes just to get the album for free and then buy a bunch of other songs) and U2 gets ridiculous exposure, as even non-fans will probably grab it just because it is free, and why not.
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  • jerparker20
    jerparker20 St. Paul, MN Posts: 2,529
    Just gave it a listen. Not bad.

    Good move by U2.
  • bootlegger10
    bootlegger10 Posts: 16,263
    Read an article saying it doesn't qualify for RIAA or whatever Billboard tracking is done.
  • halv
    halv Posts: 716
    edited September 2014
    So far I think this album is pretty good. In my opinion their best by a long shot since All That You Can't Leave Behind. To do the album justice you have to listen to it on headphones. You can really hear the dynamics of each song that way which I found really lacking through regular speakers. The production is a bit too glossy for my taste however. I wish it was a little dirtier. Had a bit more grit and Larry's drums had more oomph. I thought PJ did a great job with that on Lightning Bolt. Lot's of bottom end.

    As for the way it was released, brilliant. U2 have always been ahead of the game and they see the writing on the wall. Album sales are way down. Not only does this ensure they get the music out to millions of people who normally don't buy albums but they also avoid the embarrassment of lackluster sales which was almost guaranteed. For a band always striving to be the biggest in the world they pulled it off again.

    Post edited by halv on
  • nicknyr15
    nicknyr15 Posts: 9,329
    edited September 2014
    It's definitely better than a 90 day countdown clock ......
    Post edited by nicknyr15 on
  • bluegrace
    bluegrace Posts: 2,357
    Listening to it now. It's quite good. I realised how much I had missed Bonos voice. And I think it's smart to collaborate with Apple and give away the album for free. Now I'm hoping for a tour and that they come to Sweden this time.
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  • rey
    rey Monmouth County, NJ Posts: 307
    Would be really nice if tickets to shows on their next tour are available via free download.

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