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Maybe my understanding of what counts for an experience is wrong, but if I'm right, it's nothing to brag about.
Your understanding is wrong. They counted the number of unique customers who either downloaded the album, or streamed it via iTunes, iTunes Radio or Beats Music.

Personally, I think it is a good album (U2's best since the early 1990s).
 
So....out of 500 million users, 81 million (16%) of them downloaded a "FREE" album. Talk about a resounding success. ;)
 
Haters gonna hate......

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So....out of 500 million users, 81 million (16%) of them downloaded a "FREE" album. Talk about a resounding success. ;)

Tell me another act that got 81 million listens in a few weeks. I thought not.
 
the thing is...U2 would have NEVER made 100 million off that album if they tried to sell it.

basically Apple paid for marketing...and U2 sucked it right up. The reason Bono said they haven't released an album in a while was correct...the sucked

they are irrelevant now IMO...sad
 
Haters gonna hate......

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Tell me another act that got 81 million listens in a few weeks. I thought not.

Tell me another act that was promoted by Apple and has their album on iTunes for free. I thought not. ;)
 
"iTunes Users Downloaded U2's 'Songs of Innocence' 26 Million Times, 81 Million 'Experienced Songs'"

iTunes FORCED Devices to Download U2's 'Songs of Innocence' 26 Million Times, 81 Million 'Experienced Songs'

Everyone keeps saying this, but if that were the ultimate truth, wouldn't the reported number be around 500+ mil?

I understand there was some element of this being automatically added to users' libraries, but it was not done out of malice but for the sake of an Apple ease of use experience. Nothing more.

Get over yourselves and choose to either enjoy the gift or return it for a full refund.
 
I had never listened to U2, but downloaded the album and have listened to it several times.

Thank you Apple.
 
I wanted it and downloaded it but still have not listened to it. Just not as excited about them as I was when it was the 90s.
 
You still had to download the music to listen to it, so I assume that's where the number is from.

Would you please stop bringing logic into the discussion? ;)

Seriously, people. I have 4 devices. I have three other Apple devices in the house that belong to others. NONE of those devices got it downloaded automatically.
 
Happily downloaded the album and have been enjoying it ever since!
 
Would you please stop bringing logic into the discussion? ;)

Seriously, people. I have 4 devices. I have three other Apple devices in the house that belong to others. NONE of those devices got it downloaded automatically.

It took me two days to figure out how to download it on all my devices because I thought it was supposed to be automatic. I had to go into purchase and under recent purchases was the link to download the whole album. It did not show a download all button when going to the actual album page. Lots of people on the apple support pages were asking how to download it as well.
 
Your understanding is wrong. They counted the number of unique customers who either downloaded the album, or streamed it via iTunes, iTunes Radio or Beats Music.

Personally, I think it is a good album (U2's best since the early 1990s).

Oh no, you can't like the album. The Gods of taste have declared that it's irrelevant and lousy, so it must be so. ;)

It's music. People are going to like some music, and not like others. I would venture to say that most of the people scorning U2 on this and other threads listen to most of their music because it's the popular artist of the day, and they want to be trendy. As another poster said: Get over yourselves.
 
iTunes Users Downloaded U2's 'Songs of Innocence' 26 Million Times

And that's just the downloads Apple forced upon it's users....
 
Tell me another act that was promoted by Apple and has their album on iTunes for free. I thought not. ;)

That is not the point. Talking about people listening to the music. You'd be bitching regardless of who Apple promoted. Like I said. Haters gonna hate.
 
I'm sure this has probably been mentioned, but the end of that keynote was so awkward that it made me feel really uncomfortable. Was that and the resulting backlash and the millions paid to U2 really worth it, Apple?
 
I actually liked the album. Not gonna be my favorite, but it was actually better than I thought it would be. My favorite tracks on the album are Volcano, Every Breaking Wave, California and Song for Someone ain't too bad.

I still don't see the fuss people have over getting something for free. I personally wouldn't care if they pushed out Katy Perry, Chris Brown or REO Speed wagon. I don't like any of them but I wouldn't raise a fit over it unless they didn't provide a "delete tool" for it.

Good Point. Thanks for commenting.
 
I hadn't listened to U2 in a long time. I really like the album. I can't tell whether I'm part of a minority or whether those that dislike it are just more vocal.
 
Everyone keeps saying this, but if that were the ultimate truth, wouldn't the reported number be around 500+ mil?

I understand there was some element of this being automatically added to users' libraries, but it was not done out of malice but for the sake of an Apple ease of use experience. Nothing more.

Get over yourselves and choose to either enjoy the gift or return it for a full refund.

That bit was quite cute. No, very cute.
Anyhow, Apple already have a vehicle for offers it’s when you sign up and agree to have ads pushed to you beforehand for New Music Tuesdays etc. This is how they should have pushed the song across or had it as a banner on the iTunes Store home page. If you’ve opted out you miss it.
They dropped the ball and are using semantics and massaging figures to play it off as a success.
I mean jesus, millions of people have ‘experienced' prison, that doesn’t mean they like it.

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I hadn't listened to U2 in a long time. I really like the album. I can't tell whether I'm part of a minority or whether those that dislike it are just more vocal.

On this forum people are equally vocal whether they like or dislike. We’ll have to compare public reaction when someone other than U2 is promoted next time around.
 
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