Apple-exclusive U2 album has been accessed by 33 million iTunes account holders
Apple has just announced that 33 million iTunes account holders have accessed U2′s “Songs of Innocence.”
In what was touted as “the largest album release of all time,” “Songs of Innocence” was released by Apple at its iPhone 6 and Apple Watch unveiling last week free of charge to more than 500 million iTunes customers.
Now, according to Apple SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue, of the half a billion iTunes account holders, 33 million have accessed the album.
And the operative word is “accessed.” As noted by the Associated Press, “Cue called the number record-breaking, but did not elaborate.”
The number is said to include iTunes account holders who have streamed the album on iTunes Radio and Beats Music as well as those who have downloaded it to their devices from their iCloud accounts. Late last week, it was reported that the album had been downloaded 2 million times.
If you can’t see the video embedded above, please click here.
As previously noted, “Songs of Innocence” is automatically added to customers’ purchases and, given the nonrestrictive device settings, automatically downloaded as well.
A number of users are none too pleased, though, about the apparently intrusive publicity stunt. In response to this sort of unenthusiastic reaction, Apple has posted a new tool along with instructions enabling users to remove “Songs of Innocence” from their accounts.
Apple reportedly paid U2 at least $100 million to give away “Songs of Innocence” for free and to have a five-week exclusive window for it. The album is exclusive to Apple until the middle of October only.
