Bank of America Donating $1 to Product (RED) for Every Free iTunes Download of U2's 'Invisible'

MacRumors · Feb 3, 2014

During yesterday's Super Bowl broadcast, a new ad featuring rock group U2 announced that Bank of America would donate $1 to (Product) RED's fight against AIDS for every free iTunes download of the band's new single "Invisible" [Direct Link]. The promotion will be active until 11:59 PM EST on February 3.

Product (RED) was co-founded by U2 lead signer Bono and activist Bobby Shriver in 2006, with Apple raising more than $65 million for the charity since then through special products. Last year, one-of-a-kind products designed by Apple's senior vice president of design Jony Ive and designer Marc Newson were sold off at Sotheby's charity auction to benefit Product (RED), which raised over $13 million.

(Product) RED is also affiliated with several other companies in addition to Apple, including American Express, Nike, and Starbucks, raising more than $200 million to date.

Article Link: Bank of America Donating $1 to Product (RED) for Every Free iTunes Download of U2's 'Invisible'

Nevaborn · Feb 3, 2014

Done. Don't even really care for the music but it's a small thing to do that might help someone.

chadua · Feb 3, 2014

It says beginning 12:01 February 2, and ending 11:59 February 3 for me.

Futurix · Feb 3, 2014

I'd prefer a free song from Katy Perry. Bono is a bit of a dick.

iSRS · Feb 3, 2014

Futurix said:
I'd prefer a free song from Katy Perry. Bono is a bit of a dick.

First, I love U2. Have since "October"

I wouldn't call Bono a dick. Pompous? Certainly. But he certainly is passionate about helping people, putting his own money where his mouth is, too, as well as using his celebrity to raise money and awareness.

BornAgainApple · Feb 3, 2014

starbird said:
First, I love U2. Have since "October"

I wouldn't call Bono a dick. Pompous? Certainly. But he certainly is passionate about helping people, putting his own money where his mouth is, too, as well as using his celebrity to raise money and awareness.

Well said.

I downloaded the song while at the pub as soon as the commercial aired. It's an ok song, no new ground broken, but I don't expect it from a band who's been around 35 years.

Lesser Evets · Feb 3, 2014

Ah. Corporate rock. Bono and "the man" are a good team for the sleepers.

polterbyte · Feb 3, 2014

Futurix said:
I'd prefer a free song from Katy Perry. Bono is a bit of a dick.

"A song from Katy Perry" is a contradiction of terms.

And if you can be a dick, as your post clearly shows, I believe Bono is entitled to be one too.

ArtOfWarfare · Feb 3, 2014

Sure, I'll download the song just so BOA will donate $1. Zero interest in the song, though.

Rossatron · Feb 3, 2014

Futurix said:
I'd prefer a free song from Katy Perry. Bono is a bit of a dick.

that.

but also, i think the whole "Red" thing is throwing money away, instead of putting it to good use. instead of using the money towards research to find a cure, they'd rather hand medicine to HIV women so they can get pregnant with some sort of ease-of-mind, that the baby's condition will be taken care of.

albusseverus · Feb 3, 2014

starbird said:
First, I love U2. Have since "October"

I wouldn't call Bono a dick. Pompous? Certainly. But he certainly is passionate about helping people, putting his own money where his mouth is, too, as well as using his celebrity to raise money and awareness.

I don't know. The rock career is long over and this new gig raising money for needy pharmaceutical companies kind of creeps me out.

At one end you have people donating money, and at the other, really needy sick people and that sounds OK, until you think about the millions for big pharma in the middle.

Look around the www, researchers say it's almost impossible to find out where the money is going. 1% to the needy, >50% on salaries? RED is a business not a charity. It's more about awareness Eww.

I know someone who went to school with him and I think the consensus was, he was always a bit of a dick. Just add money and fame.

I'm more than happy to 'take' the bank's money, but looking around, I get the uneasy feeling, I'm not making much of a difference.

It might be The Edge you were thinking of admiring.

Fondaparinux · Feb 3, 2014

This reminds me of Facebook's "Like this post to feed a child"

Jiten · Feb 3, 2014

Not a fan of U2 but downloaded for the cause. Although I'm a bit uncomfortable with this marketing shtick because it closely reminds me of those silly "Bill Gates will donate a dollar for every like" hoaxes on Facebook, but HEY - charity is charity.

Digital Skunk · Feb 3, 2014

Nevaborn said:
Done. Don't even really care for the music but it's a small thing to do that might help someone.

Same here. My wife loves the band so that will be two more.

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Rossatron said:
that.

but also, i think the whole "Red" thing is throwing money away, instead of putting it to good use. instead of using the money towards research to find a cure, they'd rather hand medicine to HIV women so they can get pregnant with some sort of ease-of-mind, that the baby's condition will be taken care of.

Yeah because everyone suffering from HIV thinks exactly like that. Or is this some sort of slight against the entire movement to help treat poor people in Africa instead of lining the pockets of Americans to help develop a cure that will most likely be out of the reach of folks suffering in Africa?

2457282 · Feb 3, 2014

actually saw the ad for this while watching the Superbowl and thought what the heck and downloaded it. Have not listened to the song in its entirety yet, but it was a good marketing tactic and a nice way to support a cause.

ck2875 · Feb 3, 2014

Yes, I know it's a commercial to create good will for the companies involved, and while it's a nice gesture, I find it a bit weird for them to spend $8 million for the 1 minute advertisement slot during the Super Bowl (not counting production costs), and then Bank of America only pledging to donate $1 per download, up to $2 million. I would have rather seen a 30 second slot for $4 million and BoA donating $6 million to charity.

uknowimright · Feb 3, 2014

song sounded quite dull, really past their prime

but I'll download it for the donation

(also, does anyone think of the More Crap, South Park episode, when they see Bono?)

FrizzleFryBen · Feb 3, 2014

I donated $10 rather than downloading. I have a no U2 rule in my home.

ArtOfWarfare · Feb 3, 2014

ck2875 said:
Yes, I know it's a commercial to create good will for the companies involved, and while it's a nice gesture, I find it a bit weird for them to spend $8 million for the 1 minute advertisement slot during the Super Bowl (not counting production costs), and then Bank of America only pledging to donate $1 per download, up to $2 million. I would have rather seen a 30 second slot for $4 million and BoA donating $6 million to charity.

Wait, only $2M? That sucks.

Crzyrio · Feb 3, 2014

ck2875 said:
Yes, I know it's a commercial to create good will for the companies involved, and while it's a nice gesture, I find it a bit weird for them to spend $8 million for the 1 minute advertisement slot during the Super Bowl (not counting production costs), and then Bank of America only pledging to donate $1 per download, up to $2 million. I would have rather seen a 30 second slot for $4 million and BoA donating $6 million to charity.

It is possible that the commercial time was an 'in kind' donation, meaning that the cost was likely much cheaper and the company providing the donation gets the tax write of

dejo · Feb 3, 2014

ck2875 said:
...and then Bank of America only pledging to donate $1 per download, up to $2 million.

Actually, it's up to $8 million.

chirpie · Feb 3, 2014

Rossatron said:
that.

but also, i think the whole "Red" thing is throwing money away, instead of putting it to good use. instead of using the money towards research to find a cure, they'd rather hand medicine to HIV women so they can get pregnant with some sort of ease-of-mind, that the baby's condition will be taken care of.

Wrong-headed in my mind. This type of thing should not be an either/or but BOTH.

As for the song, it sounded a little too "small" when I was listening in my car. But my Grados gave it the proper shake it deserved. A lot of subtle layering in there (Danger mouse influence, I'm guessing.) It's solid. The only downer is it feels like it's just getting it's groove as it reaches the finish. Hopefully the extended version on the album will rectify that feeling.

charlituna · Feb 3, 2014

Fondaparinux said:
This reminds me of Facebook's "Like this post to feed a child"

Except that you get something from this, even if you don't like the song on the end.

And 99% of the time those pages are scams. Two months later it will be a diet pill and all those folks will be suggesting it to their friends etc

----------

ck2875 said:
Yes, I know it's a commercial to create good will for the companies involved, and while it's a nice gesture, I find it a bit weird for them to spend $8 million for the 1 minute advertisement slot during the Super Bowl (not counting production costs), and then Bank of America only pledging to donate $1 per download, up to $2 million. I would have rather seen a 30 second slot for $4 million and BoA donating $6 million to charity.

You sure you don't have your numbers backwards. Cause the donation is up to $8 million

wildcat88 · Feb 3, 2014

charlituna said:
Except that you get something from this, even if you don't like the song on the end.

And 99% of the time those pages are scams. Two months later it will be a diet pill and all those folks will be suggesting it to their friends etc

----------

You sure you don't have your numbers backwards. Cause the donation is up to $8 million

BofA's website says "up to $2,000,000". So did the Super Bowl advertisement. iTunes seems to be saying $8 million, so their numbers are contradicting each other.

----------

dejo said:
Actually, it's up to $8 million.

Actually, iTunes and BofA are contradicting each other. BofA says 2 million (in the small print on the ad itself, and on their website), iTunes says 8 million. I would tend to go with the number provided by the company that's actually giving the money.

uknowimright · Feb 3, 2014

from https://red.bankofamerica.com

* For every download before 11:59PM EST Monday, 2/3/2014 (4:59AM GMT Tuesday, 2/4/2014), the Bank of America Corporation will donate $1, up to $2,000,000, to the US Fund for the Global Fund to support and fund prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Requires iTunes account. Limit one download per iTunes account. Content subject to availability. iTunes terms and conditions apply.

Footnote** All individual donations made through the Bank of America (RED) Program will go to the UN Foundation Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to support and fund Global Fund programs for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. For such donations made before December 31, 2015, Bank of America Corporation will make a donation in an equal amount (up to a maximum of $1,000 per donor in the aggregate) to the US Fund for the Global Fund to support and fund prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, up to a maximum total corporate donation of $2,000,000.

iTunes is for legal or rightholder-authorized copying only. Don't steal music.

I can tell you they've already reached that goal and apparently will keep it going until the deadline tonight

EDIT: actually seeing other material with the $8,000,000 amount, and something about the partnership generating a combined $10,000,000 in the next 2 years

Bank of America Donating $1 to Product (RED) for Every Free iTunes Download of U2's 'Invisible'

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