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

245

Comments

  • Nami
    Nami Newfoundland Posts: 5,999
    how do you download this? it says it will be in my library under albums/artists but all i see is my current music.

    DAMN YOU TECHNOLOGY DAMN YOU!

    :))
    Hamilton 9-13-05; Toronto 5-9-06, Toronto 8-21-09, Toronto 9-12-11, Hamilton 9-15-11....
  • Hobbes
    Hobbes Pacific Northwest Posts: 6,438
    Nami said:

    how do you download this? it says it will be in my library under albums/artists but all i see is my current music.

    DAMN YOU TECHNOLOGY DAMN YOU!

    :))

    In iTunes click edit (top left of screen) then preferences then store. There make sure to check the box next to "Show iTunes in the cloud purchases". It should then show up in your library. Enjoy!

  • HesCalledDyer
    HesCalledDyer Maryland Posts: 16,498
    Great move on both Apple's and U2's parts. And I dig the album, too. I've listened to it once and am half way thru my 2nd pass and I think it has the potential to get even better with each listen. Don't think it will be another Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, or Pop, but it's definitely better than HTDAAB & NLOTH!
    Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24 / Raleigh I 25 / Raleigh II 25 / Pittsburgh I 25
  • Nami
    Nami Newfoundland Posts: 5,999
    Hobbes said:

    Nami said:

    how do you download this? it says it will be in my library under albums/artists but all i see is my current music.

    DAMN YOU TECHNOLOGY DAMN YOU!

    :))

    In iTunes click edit (top left of screen) then preferences then store. There make sure to check the box next to "Show iTunes in the cloud purchases". It should then show up in your library. Enjoy!

    Thanks Hobbes! got it
    Hamilton 9-13-05; Toronto 5-9-06, Toronto 8-21-09, Toronto 9-12-11, Hamilton 9-15-11....
  • helplessdancer
    helplessdancer Posts: 5,293
    u2 are rich and i'm old school which means even though i DL'd the new cd i will still buy a hard copy when it hits the shelves. same as zac brown grohl sessions, same as petty's new tour.
    i can't stand owning digital files only of anything.
  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,327
    Apple paid them $100 million so I think it was a no brainer for U2 with today's weak album sales. And they don't have to be labled as going corporate since they traveled down that path many moons ago.
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • CM189191
    CM189191 Posts: 6,927
    Thoughts, I know what I'll be falling asleep to on my next flight....
  • maverick
    maverick Posts: 1,256
    Great idea for promotion on both sides. Win win. Apple and U2 get promotion and money.

    Bono's letter on U2.com mentions a follow up Songs of Experience, so I think another LP will be available soon, probably around the tour announcement later this year Dec/Jan. They've had a ton of songs to work with. At the very least it seems like a split double album. Perhaps with the long rumored Songs of Ascent there is a third a year or so off somewhere in the middle of their eventual two year world tour. I'm happy for new U2 music, and I'll still buy the cd in a month when it comes out.
  • justam
    justam Posts: 21,415
    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.

    I was wondering the same thing.
    Tom petty gave his album away with purchase of a concert ticket and got a #1 that way. This gives U2 an even bigger number for the first week!!
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  • Zod
    Zod Posts: 10,914
    justam 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.

    I was wondering the same thing.
    Tom petty gave his album away with purchase of a concert ticket and got a #1 that way. This gives U2 an even bigger number for the first week!!
    I wonder how it would get counted. Just the people that bothered to download it, or does every copy given to every ITunes customer count (regardless if they wanted it or even liked u2 or rock music.. lol). If everyone counts they could shatter records. Aren't there something like 500m iTunes customers. I don't have have an apple device and I have an iTunes account (as there's some HD movies and stuff you can't find on bluray but are in HD on iTunes).
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,759
    edited September 2014
    Listening now. 3 songs in.... It's not bad. Need time to absorb it, but so far I'm not NOT liking it.... but it certainly isn't stirring great emotion in me or anything.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • CM189191
    CM189191 Posts: 6,927
    edited September 2014
    Thoughts: sounds like this same predictable thoughtless garbage they've released for the last 20 years. No wonder they partnered with Apple.
  • CH139159
    CH139159 Posts: 50
    The album is "free" to anyone with iTunes, but Apple paid U2 a substantial amount of money.
  • Zod
    Zod Posts: 10,914
    I agree... U2 seems to have settled on a sound and the albums made in the 21st century sort of sound similar and there's maybe 1 or 2 tracks from each that I really like (allthough I'm 4 songs into the new album and haven't heard one yet).

    U2 Rocked the 80s and the Joshua Tree was phenomenal. Rattle n' Hum seemed to keep the same sound I dug that album. Achtung Baby is my absolutely favorite and sounded unlike anything they'd made before. Zooropa is an odd album, but my favorite U2 song is on it (Stay) and a number of other I like. It seemed to try and carry over the same vibe from Achtung. I liked POP quite bit too. Everyone thought it was a disco album because of the title track but it has really good songs and its own unique sound. Everything after that feels like U2 settling down on a sound.. like its become formulaic.

    They're still pretty good live but that's because they put out really good albums for for almost 15 years straight. Lots of killer songs to choose from and engage the crowd with.

    I'll have to give the new album another listen, but it seems almost as forgettable as the last one (at least the one before the last on (vertigo) had city of blinding lights and vertigo on it :) ).
  • Spiritual_Chaos
    Spiritual_Chaos Posts: 31,561
    CH139159 said:

    The album is "free" to anyone with iTunes, but Apple paid U2 a substantial amount of money.

    Well, Target paid Pearl Jam a lot for carrying Backspacer :)
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,759
    CM189191 said:

    Thoughts: sounds like this same predictable thoughtless garbage they've released for the last 20 years. No wonder they partnered with Apple.

    I wouldn't go so far as to call it garbage, but it does seem thoughtless and formulaic now. I'm going to stick with the older stuff! 1980 - 1991 they were awesome. I love all of their albums through Achtung Baby. After that era they pretty much totally fell apart, with only a few good songs from All That You Can't Leave Behind and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, and nothing good on the other 3 albums. Too early to say about the latest... have only half listened to it once. But nothing stood out.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • josevolution
    josevolution Posts: 31,784
    shit just looked at my library and there it is , thanks U2 still one of my fav bands of all time even though it's next to impossible to get tickets ...psyched to listen to it with headphones and stoned :)
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • justam
    justam Posts: 21,415
    Zod said:



    I wonder how it would get counted. Just the people that bothered to download it, or does every copy given to every ITunes customer count (regardless if they wanted it or even liked u2 or rock music.. lol). If everyone counts they could shatter records. Aren't there something like 500m iTunes customers. I don't have have an apple device and I have an iTunes account (as there's some HD movies and stuff you can't find on bluray but are in HD on iTunes).

    I was wondering about how it would be counted too. I'm sure we'll find out when the figures arrive at the end of the week!

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  • igotid88
    igotid88 Posts: 28,681
    BinFrog said:

    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?
    True. But Apple went inside the shop and bought all the stuff and gave it away. But I guess from an earlier post Billboard and RIAA won't
    I miss igotid88
  • CM189191
    CM189191 Posts: 6,927
    PJ_Soul said:

    CM189191 said:

    Thoughts: sounds like this same predictable thoughtless garbage they've released for the last 20 years. No wonder they partnered with Apple.

    I wouldn't go so far as to call it garbage, but it does seem thoughtless and formulaic now. I'm going to stick with the older stuff! 1980 - 1991 they were awesome. I love all of their albums through Achtung Baby. After that era they pretty much totally fell apart, with only a few good songs from All That You Can't Leave Behind and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, and nothing good on the other 3 albums. Too early to say about the latest... have only half listened to it once. But nothing stood out.
    You're right. "Garbage" was a little harsh. Definitely formulaic.

    Want free music? I love http://thesteamengine.net

    Btw, I love me some Garbage.

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