Bono: Sorry, not sorry, for free iTunes album release

January 2, 2015

Bono, the lead singer of U2, still seems to be rather hurt that some iTunes users were upset that their latest album, Songs of Innocence, was made available for free for a limited time on Apple's service in 2014. In his personal overview of the past year that was posted on Thursday on the U2 site, Bono praises Apple for its efforts, while at the same time comments on how some iTunes users, in his opinion, just don't get what the band trying to do.

Bono's statement, under the title 'I is for iTunes", says:

Our album was to be like a bottle of milk dropped at the door of anyone interested in music and iTunes. As I understand it, the journey from the front door to the fridge and into what to some people felt was their bowl of cereal has something to do with a switch called "automatic download" - if you turn it on, you sign up for being pushed stuff.

That's about it...no flagrant abuse of human rights, but very annoying to people who a) like being annoyed, and/or b) felt it was like someone robbing their phone in the pub and taking a couple of photos before leaving it back on the table... some kind of breach of privacy which was really not intended. I empathise with the b)'s, but for the a)'s I've started referring them to the philosopher Jimmy Kimmel.

That Apple remains a music company is the best news for any one who wakes up with a melody in their head or wanting to hear one. Apple is unique in big tech in trying to get artists paid. That they would agree to pay Universal for SONGS of INNOCENCE, and then gift it to all the people who still believe music is worth paying for, both makes sense and is a beautiful thing.

Hopefully this will be the last time we hear from Bono on this subject.

Source: U2