U2 Delivers A Knockout to the Music Industry
The music industry may have thought the U2 marketing machines may have been a bit crazy to suggest "giving" the album away. The cross promotion created opportunities that exposed the holes within the music distribution. U2 created a a deal that included delivery of the complete album to every iTunes account free of charge and the band providing the promotional support to Apple during their annual developers conference. Its been suggested that Apple paid 100 million for the right to release the album. As the smoke cleared U2 released their album to the world apple users and over night increased their audience.
Four months after Songs of Innocence’s September release, U2 accounted for “23% of all music listened on iOS devices throughout January 2015,” according to an independent study conducted by the Kantar Group and announced by the band.
Even more impressive, the numbers put Bono & co. as the “most-listened-to act” on the iOS platform as a whole, beating out fan favorites Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, who garnered 11% and 8% of all plays, respectively.
An independent study has concluded that U2 accounted for 23% of all music listened on iOS devices throughout January 2015.
The study, conducted by the Kantar Group, found that not only was U2 the most-listened-to act on the iOS platform, but that more users were listening to U2 than the second (Taylor Swift at 11%) and third (Katy Perry at 8%) runners-up combined.
Additionally, Kantar found that 95% of the U2 listeners listened to one or more tracks from the band’s current album, Songs Of Innocence.
Nearly 1/4 Of iTunes Users are Listening to U2
“This is fantastic news. If these figures suggest that these songs still matter to people, then we’re knocked out. That’s all any songwriter wants. ”
An independent study has concluded that U2 accounted for 23% of all music listened on iOS devices throughout January 2015.
The study, conducted by the Kantar Group, found that not only was U2 the most-listened-to act on the iOS platform, but that more users were listening to U2 than the second (Taylor Swift at 11%) and third (Katy Perry at 8%) runners-up combined. Additionally, Kantar found that 95% of the U2 listeners listened to one or more tracks from the band’s current album,
Annoyed as some Apple customers may have been over being "force-fed" U2's new album last fall, the impact of the free release is still visible five months later. Twenty-three percent of all music users on Apple's operating system listened to at least one U2 track in January-more than twice the percentage who listened to the second-placing artist, Taylor Swift (11%).
Key Numbers
- 23% of iOS-device music users listened to U2 in January
- 11% listened to Taylor Swift
- 8% listened to Katy Perry
“It’s nice to know that 5 months on so many people have discovered Songs of Innocence. In the end we just wanted people to hear the album. We took a big risk but today we can say that the experiment worked. ”
Apple teamed up with the powerhouse rock group to make its latest album, "Songs of Innocence," available to iOS users for free in the month following the smash debut of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
In the face of user complaints about not wanting the album, the amount of memory it consumed, etc.,
U2 publicly apologized and Apple posted instructions for how to remove the album from a user's device.
Loud as the complaints may have been, however, Kantar determined that nearly every iOS device user who listened to U2 in January - 95% of them - listened to at least one track from the new album.
Following U2 at 23% and Taylor Swift at 11%, 8% of music users on iOS listened to at least one Katy Perry song in January, 8% also listened to at least one Maroon 5 song, and 7% listened to Rihanna.
Source: Kantar
Keep up to date on U2 news via our new mobile app. Download today directly from Itunes.
Fake Bono Twitter Account
A few weeks ago reports we heard some reports of a possible Bono twitter account. The news circled all of the fan sites and of course most of the subscribed to the possibility that Bono could in fact be on twitter with a public account.
Well U2 fans, not a chance ! Its a fake and not even close to anything that Bono would associate with. Sources confirmed late yesterday that the account which cause all of the twitter noise is in fact a fake. This one is pretty bold. Of course we already have a great twitter follower @fakebono which provides some interesting commentary from time to time.
This new account while interesting collection of "friends" really is not doing much. Remember which Edge got on twitter? That account proved to be fun during the tour. Pretty sure once the tour gets closer we can expect to see from traffic from @Edge360. Meantime why not download our new app and follow us on twitter. We will keep you informed and blast those rumors away. Until next time @U2TOURFANS
U2's Universal Love
I have always found messages of hope, love desire, grief and anger with U2's lyrics to be freeing in the sense of allowing me a brief minute of total emotions.
The simple joy that that music allows us to feel the emotion when you allow it to breathe within your soul.
Life experiences come alive when you open your heart and mind to lyrics. We can't experience love, joy, sadness or fear without opening our hearts to the feeling. The idea of walking around the world numb to all of this seems to be holding you in a prison for a sentence you yet to understand.
U2's music allows ones self to break free for a few minutes and feel those feelings and express thoughts that may be locked inside of your heart. Here are a few of those lyrics that I have found to allow us to breathe.
Ordinary Love
We can't fall any further
If we can't feel ordinary love
And we cannot reach any higher
If we can't deal with ordinary love
Invisible
There is no them
There is no them
There’s only us
There’s only us
There is no them
There is no them
There’s only us
There’s only us
There is no them
There is no them
There’s only you
And there’s only me
There is no them
Love Is Blindness
Love is blindness
I don't wanna see
Won't you wrap the night
Around me?
Oh my heart
Love is blindness
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
I have climbed the highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you
Hawkmoon 269
Like a desert needs rain
Like a town needs a name
I need your love.
Every Breaking Wave, Trouble and Irish filmmaker
The violence of Northern Ireland in the 80’s has been a theme for U2 within many of their songs. This short film inspired by the newest tracks from “Songs of Innocence” opens on a group of Catholic lads goofing off before hitting a punk club, where one boy, Sean, catches the eye of a crowd-surfing girl, Sandra. She catches up with the Sean after the show, stealing his cigarette as he lays in the street with a friend, who later informs him the she's a Protestant. Nevertheless, the couple comes together to the tune of "Every Breaking Wave," but scenes of their budding romance are undercut with outbursts
In the aftermath of the arrest, Sean isolates himself from Sandra and prepares to join forces with a group of Catholic militants. During a meeting, however, Sean answers a knock at the door and finally reunites with Sandra — but their moment is cut short when a bomb goes off. Amidst the smoke and rubble, the pair find each other and together, lift an injured friend off the ground while U2's "The Troubles," also off Songs of Innocence, begins to play.
U2 band member The Edge has praised Aoife’s work labeling it “extraordinary”.
"The Aoife McArdle short film expands on the theme of Songs of Innocence which was largely rooted in our experience growing up in the early eighties in Dublin. Aoife chose west Belfast in the same period, as it was the neighborhood that was so formative to her,” he said.
The Edge is not Aoife’s only notable fan.
Academy Award nominated filmmaker Spike Jonze, said of Aoife McArdle's short film, "I was really taken with this film. She captured that feeling and size of life of being a teenager and of first love so well. She drifts between the reality of friends and first love into fantasy so effortlessly and romantically. It's a perfect little gem of a romance movie."
Aoife has previously directed music videos for James Vincent McMorrow and Simian Mobile Disco.
The London-based talent plans to move back to her native Belfast soon to work on her first feature film. “A lot of films in Northern Ireland don’t get shot in Northern Ireland, which is quite strange. A lot of people feel like it’s too close to the bone to go there. Or are too afraid to go there. I don’t know why.”
The band will embark on the ambitious Innocence + Experience World Tour this May download the tour app to keep up on all of the tour news, set lists and more.
U2 Adds 7th Show to NYC
Due to overwhelming demand, U2 has added a seventh show at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, July 30 as part of their iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Tour. You can download the most current tour calendar via the mobile app
U2 iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Tour 2015 Updated
Most U2 fans have already used their pre sale code for announced earlier dates. We have heard from some of you about your displeasure in the whole process. The process has been a bit challenging however this is nothing new for large bands trying to be sure that they sell out venues before adding dates.
U2 continues to sell out shows and we can expect to see more dates added as the tour continues to grow. Like we know that Dublin has to be on the schedule. Its going to be a busy tour schedule. We updated all of the dates we have confirmed. We will keep you informed as we find out more info.
We can suggest that you download the easy to use mobile app that will give you the most current tour schedule and lots other great features.
NORTH AMERICA 2015
May 14th, Vancouver, BC, Rogers Arena
May 15th, Vancouver, BC, Rogers Arena
May 18th, San Jose, CA, SAP Center at San Jose
May 19th, San Jose, CA, SAP Center at San Jose
May 22nd, Phoenix, AZ, US Airways Center
May 23rd, Phoenix, AZ, US Airways Center
May 26th, Los Angeles, CA, Forum
May 27th, Los Angeles, CA, Forum
May 30th, Los Angeles, CA, Forum
May 31st, Los Angeles, CA, Forum
June 3rd, Los Angeles, CA, Forum - On Sale Friday, January 30th
June 12th, Montreal, QC, Bell Centre
June 13th, Montreal, QC, Bell Centre
June 16th, Montreal, QC, Bell Centre
June 17th, Montreal, QC, Bell Centre
June 24th, Chicago, IL, United Center
June 25th, Chicago, IL, United Center
June 28th, Chicago, IL, United Center
June 29th, Chicago, IL, United Center
July 2nd, Chicago, IL, United Center - On Sale Tuesday, February 10th
July 6th, Toronto, ON, Air Canada Centre
July 7th, Toronto, ON, Air Canada Centre
July 10th, Boston, MA, TD Garden
July 11th, Boston, MA, TD Garden
July 14th, Boston, MA, TD Garden
July 15th, Boston, MA, TD Garden
July 18th, New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
July 19th, New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
July 22nd, New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
July 23rd, New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
July 26th, New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
July 27th, New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
July 30th, New York, NY, Madison Square Garden - On Sale Tuesday, February 10th
EUROPE / UK 2015
Sept. 4th, Turin, Italy , Pala Alpitour
Sept. 5th, Turin, Italy, Pala Alpitour
Sept. 8th, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Ziggo Dome
Sept. 9th, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Ziggo Dome
Sept. 12th, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Ziggo Dome
Sept. 13th, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Ziggo Dome
Sept. 16th, Stockholm, Sweden, Globe
Sept. 17th, Stockholm, Sweden, Globe
Sept. 20th, Stockholm, Sweden, Globe
Sept. 21th, Stockholm, Sweden, Globe
Sept. 24th, Berlin, Germany, O2 World
Sept. 25th, Berlin, Germany, O2 World
Sept. 28th, Berlin, Germany, O2 World
Sept. 29th, Berlin, Germany, O2 World
Oct. 5th, Barcelona, Spain, Palau Sant Jordi
Oct. 6th, Barcelona, Spain, Palau Sant Jordi
Oct. 9th, Barcelona, Spain, Palau Sant Jordi - On Sale Tuesday, February 10th
Oct. 13th, Antwerp, Belgium, Sportpaleis
Oct. 14th, Antwerp, Belgium, Sportpaleis
Oct. 17th, Koln, Germany, Lanxess Arena
Oct. 18th Koln, Germany, Lanxess Arena
Oct. 25th, London, UK, O2
Oct. 26th, London, UK, O2
Oct. 29th, London, UK, O2
Oct. 30th, London, UK, O2
Nov. 2nd, London, UK, O2 - On Sale Friday, February 6th
Nov. 6th, Glasgow, UK, The SSE Hydro
Nov. 7th, Glasgow, UK, The SSE Hydro
Nov. 10th, Paris, France, Bercy
Nov. 11th, Paris, France, Bercy
Nov. 14th, Paris, France, Bercy
Nov. 15th, Paris, France, Bercy
U2's Grammy Rich History
Current Nominations
2014 - 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards
Best Rock Album
Past GRAMMY Awards
2005 - 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards
Album Of The Year
Winner
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Song Of The Year
Winner
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
Winner
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Best Rock Song
Winner
City Of Blinding Lights
Best Rock Album
Winner
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
2004 - 47th Annual GRAMMY Awards
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
Winner
Vertigo
Best Rock Song
Winner
Vertigo
Best Short Form Music Video
Winner
Vertigo
2001 - 44th Annual GRAMMY Awards
Record Of The Year
Winner
Walk On
Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
Winner
Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
Winner
Elevation
Best Rock Album
Winner
All That You Can't Leave Behind
2000 - 43rd Annual GRAMMY Awards
Record Of The Year
Winner
Beautiful Day
Song Of The Year
Winner
Beautiful Day
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
Winner
Beautiful Day
1994 - 37th Annual GRAMMY Awards
Best Music Video, Long Form
Winner
Zoo TV - Live From Sydney
1993 - 36th Annual GRAMMY Awards
Best Alternative Music Album
Winner
Zooropa
1992 - 35th Annual GRAMMY Awards
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
Winner
Achtung Baby
1988 - 31st Annual GRAMMY Awards
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
Winner
Desire
Best Performance Music Video
Winner
Where The Streets Have No Name
1987 - 30th Annual GRAMMY Awards
Album Of The Year
Winner
The Joshua Tree
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
Winner
The Joshua Tree
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