Backlash forces Apple to create app that allows users to delete U2 album

Just days after Apple sparked fury for installing U2’s new album in 500 million iTunes accounts without consent, the tech giant has been forced to launch a new app - simply to remove the album from customers’ libraries. When Apple launched their new iPhone 6 and iWatch last week with the Irish rockers sharing the stage, it emerged the album “Songs of Innocence” had appeared in every iTunes library in 119 countries as a marketing stunt - which backfired disastrously. Although the album isn’t physically on the device, many customers didn’t like U2, or having anything “smuggled” onto their operating systems without their knowledge.

Some customers asked for the ability to delete ‘Songs of Innocence’ from their library so we set up itunes.com/soi-remove to let them easily do so.

Apple’s Adam Howorth, speaking to the BBC

Apple said Monday that 33 million iTunes account holders have accessed the free album. But some iTunes users took to Twitter to complain and ask how to remove it. While it was already possible to delete the album, Apple’s tool makes it possible in one step.

And for the people out there who have no interest in checking us out, look at it this way… the blood, sweat and tears of some Irish guys are in your junk mail.

Bono

u2 Entertainment