That U2 Apple Stunt Wasn't the Disaster You Might Think It Was

journovampire writes with this interesting bit about the fallout of U2's partnership with Apple. "Remember U2's album giveway with Apple at the end of last summer? And how the world seemed to become very annoyed that its contents had been "pushed" to their devices without permission? Well, the naysayers might have been loud – but that hasn't stopped the stunt having a lasting effect on the band's popularity. That’s according to new research from retail insight experts Kantar in the US, which shows that nearly a quarter (24%) of all US music users on iOS devices in January listened to U2, nearly five months after Songs Of Innocence was released for free onto 500m iPhones across the world. In a survey of iOS users, Kantar found that more than twice the percentage of people listened to U2 in January than listened to the second-placed artist, Taylor Swift (11%)."

Comments

The idea was a good one, the execution poor

[gurps_npc]

Ideally what should have happened was that every person that got it for free should have had a window pop with the free offer and asking permission to download it.

Not asking permission is theft. The playback devices are owned by their OWNERS, not the company that they connect with to download content. Pushing content onto it, rather than asking for permission to push content is stealing the playback device and using it for your own purposes.

No one likes someone stealing my electronics, even if they add give it right back after they fiddle with it.

Re:The idea was a good one, the execution poor

[gurps_npc]

The basic problem was the mindset, technological capabilities, and trust.

If you give me your phone for 30 seconds, I can download software on it to let me track your location anytime I want to. Other people can download software to turn on the microphone and listen in without having the phone ring.

The only real difference between your cellphone and a spying device used to track you, listen to every word you say, is the software on it.

Just because all they CLAIMED to download was a 'free song' doesn't mean it really was a free song.

Doing the download indicates:

1. The ability to treat pwn your electronics at their convenience.

2. Weak morals, ethics and lack of respect for us such that they see nothing wrong with pwning our devices.

This is a matter of trust - and they proved they are not trustworthy.

The real issue is

[monkeyxpress]

that U2 live in the past. Joshua Tree, Boy, and even Zooropa were great albums, because they spoke to a specific time and place. I'm not a huge fan of their music, but I can certainly appreciate what they brought to pop music at the time. For that reason I'll listen to them every now and again.

But this latest Apple album is just an attempt to re-do Joshua Tree. I mean, if the Edge started playing the Keytar and succeeded in making it cool, or Bono stopped writing songs with abstract lyrics, that could be new and interesting. But if people want to listen to Joshua tree, everyone can listen to Joshua tree.

The best classics are classics because they encompass a specific time and place. U2 had their time and place, did it really well, and now they either need to do something completely new (at the risk of their legacy), or go enjoy their royalty cheques for the rest of their lives, doing reunion shows whenever Bono needs a new private jet.

Re:Oh just stop already

[BarbaraHudson]

Hey, since when is 50 old? I hear 70 is the new 50, and soon it's be 80.

Also, classic rock never gets old - your kids will be listening to the same songs (at least until they find out you grew up with those songs).