So now the numbers are in for the U2-Apple free download, what do we thing?
“Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior VP of internet software and services said that 26 million iTunes users have downloaded Songs of Innocence since the September 9th release exclusive to Apple’s 500 million global iTunes customers. Cue adds that 81 million Apple customers “experienced” songs.
To do the numbers simply: From the 81 million that came into contact with the Innocence album, and the 26 million that actually downloaded it, 55 million chose not to get the full U2 experience.
“Apple is a tech company fighting to get musicians paid. The idea that they wanted to make a gift to the very people that actually purchase music is both beautiful and poetic, and for that we are very grateful.”
Despite Apple paying $100 million for exclusive rights to give away and stream the U2 album from the September 13th release date until the October 13th free download deadline, the fact that such a large number of users opted out of the free album promotion can’t feel too good for anyone involved.”
That was Jeff Sorensen’s take and I can’t say I agree with it. If U2 released the album normally, well, maybe it would have sold 2M copies worldwide, maybe not. But it certainly and under no circumstances would have been downloaded 26M times. That is a huge number. Who cares how many people deleted it? An irrelevant number.
Plus, U2 got $100M.
They will sell out every arena from LA to Tokyo next year, they will be a stratospheric hit, a humongous tour, the best selling tour of all time. And if that isn’t enough, a lot of people will have actually heard the album for a change.
For Apple $100M is chump change, big fucking deal, it gave the Apple 6 a huge burst of publicity when they wanted a huge burst, it was icing on the cake and, I watch it, it was really really dramatic. Sure it wore off fast but those are the times we live in.
