Apple Says 33 Million People Have ‘Experienced’ U2 Album ‘Songs of Innocence’

Did you listen to U2’s new album, Songs of Innocence, which was given to users (albeit somewhat forcibly) by Apple for free last week? If you did, you are part of what the company is calling a record 33 million people who have ‘experienced’ the album, according to a statement given to Mashable:

“Just six days after its release on iTunes, a record breaking 33 million people have already experienced the album,” Eddy Cue, Apple’s SVP of Internet Software and Services, said in a statement to Mashable.

[…]

“We wanted to thank our customers and share our love of music by gifting them Songs of Innocence,”

When clarification was asked regarding what “experienced the album” meant, Apple said it meant anyone who had “listened to it” either on iTunes, iTunes Radio or Beats Music. The album topped 2 million downloads three days after it was announced as a freebie for users with iTunes Accounts.

YouTube video

Personally, I have no problem with the free album as I wasn’t affected by the ‘forced’ download (my iCloud is turned off for music purchases).

Ironically, earlier today Apple released a one-click tool to allow users to easily remove the free U2 album from their iTunes purchases. I wonder how many people did that—I’m pretty sure those numbers won’t be known anytime soon.

P.S. - Like our news? Support the site with a coffee/beer. Or shop with our Amazon link. We use affiliate links when possible--thank you for supporting independent media.