U2’s Bono Stands Behind Releasing ‘Songs of Innocence’ on iTunes

2014-11-10

Story by Cat Badra

Bono says U2 released ‘Songs of Innocence’ on iTunes because they wanted their music to be heard

Bono recently made an apology for releasing U2’s new album, “Songs of Innocence,” as a free download for all iTunes users. Now, the famed singer is changing his tune, explaining that the band thought releasing the new songs on iTunes would help get their hard work out to the biggest audience possible.

“It’s one of the proudest things for us ever,” Bono told Billboard regarding the way “Songs of Innocence” was unleashed. “We always wanted our music to be heard, and the idea that we could have worked for years and years [on] what we think are the most personal songs that we have ever written — and you have to become very raw to write like that — only then for them maybe not to be heard was terrifying.”

Bono added that the guys were “thrilled that we got a chance to introduce ourselves to people who weren’t fans of listening to rock music, or people that listen to Bhangra in India, or whatever, all around the world.”

Those comments are in line with a statement Bono made during a Facebook Q&A last month. When asked about the release of “Songs of Innocence” on iTunes, he explained his decision-making process as a “drop of megalomania, touch of generosity, dash of self-promotion and deep fear that these songs that we poured our life into over the past few years might not be heard.”

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Cat Badra

Meet the expert - Cat Badra is a music writer for Audio Ink Radio and a range of other music, sports and lifestyle publications. She's a graduate of Michigan State University with a master's degree in theater and speech. Contact her at cat@audioinkradio.com.