In September 2014, U2’s Songs of Innocence was released for free on iTunes and automatically downloaded to listener’s iPhones and iPads regardless if you liked the band or not. It angered millions of users who didn’t want to have a U2 album in their playlists, and resulted in the group issuing an apology for the marketing stunt.
With the controversy behind them, U2 might be considering pulling off the same marketing strategy and self-promotion for their next album Songs of Experience due out in 2016. “We haven’t figured it out yet, but our intention would be to get it out sometime in the back end of next year,” guitarist The Edge told The Belfast Telegraph.
The 54-year-old said that this tactic is beneficial for their music to reach a younger generation of listeners. “I would not rule out doing something similar with the next record,” he says.
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