Apple Spurs User Outrage Forcing iTunes Download Of New U2 ‘Songs of Innocence’ Album [Updated]

Update, 0915 - 4:30PM - Apple is now offering iTunes users the ability to remove U2's new album, Songs of Innocence, from their library. However, the company warns that once the album has been removed users will not be able to re-download it as a previous purchase. The company also aid that the album will remain free for everyone until October 13, 2014.

At this year’s Apple iPhone 6 event, there was another surprise for Apple users. During the event, U2 were introduced with the band’s singer and guitarist Bono. Along with Apple ceo Tim Cook, Bono announced that the band's latest album, Songs of Innocence, would be free for iTunes users. However, rather than letting users decide whether or not to download the free album, Apple simply added it to everyone's iTunes library.

The publicity stunt was touted as "the largest album release of all time" by Cook. While this is true considering that, according to Bloomberg, there are 800 million iTunes account, the manner in how this was accomplished has caused outrage from some users. Whether from the album taking up needed space to a person's dislike for U2, some comments have been disapproving.

Apple owes me a new iPhone, because I had to purify this one with fire after finding a U2 album on it

— Warren Ellis (@warrenellis) September 10, 2014

After the announcement was made, the album was immediately added to everyone's library. This meant that for those who have their iPhones set to automatically download new purchases, it was downloaded to their devices. As for other users, the album is now in their library and marked as being "purchase.” So whether you are a fan of U2 or not, this means that people can look at your library and see that you “purchased” the album.


Unfortunately, trying to remove the album from your library is not possible, which is another reason for some iTunes users to be upset. While you can delete the songs from your device, it will still be available and viewable to other people who look at your library. No matter what you do, there is no way to completely delete the album, it will always be available in your library. All you can do, if you don't like U2 or don't want people to know the album is in your library, is to just hide it from public view.

U2 made a great deal by getting Apple to push its album onto its users. However, Apple's method of forcing it on users, whether they want it or not, is the problem at hand. 

How do you feel about Apple adding Songs of Innocence to everyone's library?