The Indo Daily: Ten years on - the U2 free album fiasco and Bono's biggest PR disasters
Briefly

"From the very beginning, U2 have always wanted our music to reach as many people as possible, the clue is in our name, I suppose, so today is kind of mind-blowing to us," Bono stated. This reflects U2's long-standing ambition to broaden their audience and connect with fans beyond traditional rock listeners. Bono expressed excitement about the opportunity for people unfamiliar with U2 to discover their music through this free album distribution.
Criticism of the U2-Apple collaboration surfaced almost immediately, with the Washington Post describing the partnership as 'U2, Apple and rock-and-roll as dystopian junk mail.' Such backlash illustrates the discomfort many felt regarding unsolicited content, highlighting the fine line between promotion and intrusion in modern digital distribution.
The LA Times contributed to the discourse, remarking on U2 'leveraging itself into your life without permission.' This sentiment underscores a significant concern in the digital age: the unwanted presence of brands and artists in personal spaces, which can evoke feelings of invasion rather than excitement if not handled sensitively.
As the discussion unfolds, questions arise about whether the intense backlash against U2's album giveaway was warranted or if it stemmed from broader cultural attitudes of negativity toward unexpected changes in how music is consumed.
Read at Irish Independent
[
]
[
|
]