Apple partnered with Irish rock band U2 in 2014 to give the group's new album, Songs of Innocence, to everyone with an Apple account. Apple called it the largest album release of all time, but it immediately sparked controversy in the music industry, and many of Apple's own customers weren't thrilled.

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Sources:
    • https://time.com/3397067/u2s-mission-to-save-music/
    • https://qz.com/262852/u2s-apple-deal-shows-why-musicians-dont-sell-music-anymore
    • https://www.billboard.com/pro/itunes-numbers-u2-songs-innocence-album/
    • https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/after-innocence-u2-look-ahead-to-tour-new-lp-songs-of-experience-51361/
    • https://web.archive.org/web/20141101181749/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/nick-mason-im-not-entirely-sure-pink-floyd-is-over-20141031?page=2
    • https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/20/u2-uk-album-charts-first-week-songs-of-innocence-sales-meghan-trainor
    • https://web.archive.org/web/20141101025133/http://blogs.seattletimes.com/soundposts/2014/10/15/black-keys-drummer-patrick-carney-u2-and-spotify-devalue-music/
    • https://loudwire.com/buckcherry-keith-nelson-calls-out-u2-free-album-decision/
    • https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/15/apple-u2-album-itunes-delete
    • https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/22/bono-memoir-birth-of-u2-itunes-album-live-aid-mullet