After the widely unpopular and unacceptable U2 stunt with Apple in September, fans remain unreceptive towards U2 tour 2014 news of delay.
Early in September, Apple unleashed what is now known to be one of the greatest marketing blunder of all time that has caused the death of a once considered legendary band.
Apple iTunes subscribers total a whopping 500 million worldwide, specifically in 119 countries across the globe. This number is the recipient of U2's thirteenth studio album, "Songs of Innocence," which was released free, via the iTunes store of every single connected Apple device. Appearing in connected iTunes accounts is the deliberately unauthorized U2 album, reportedly involves $100 million in marketing contract among Apple, U2 and its recording company, Universal.
Apart from the free album released in iTunes, this marketing strategy "will include a global television campaign, the first piece of which was a commercial that was shown during the [keynote] event", reports NyTimes.com.
Upon the release of "Songs of Innocence", users were shocked as they found the album in their accounts. Apple and U2 announce this as a gift to fans, as Guy Oseary the band's manager explains to NyTimes.com, "This is a gift from Apple to their consumers. They bought it and they are giving it away."
While fans and iTunes users feel this was more of an invasion to their privacy than a gift, since "Song of Innocence" release, U2 has been dubbed as one of the most hated bands of all time, contrary to its previous legendary status.
Prior to the release of the "Songs of Innocence", then fans of the band were already anticipating the 13th album. With news of delay of the U2 tour 2014 to a vague 2015, now audiences aren't so keen about following the U2 tour 2014 anymore.
After the release, Oseary remains faithful to Apple and U2's cause of sharing their music and shares with the Associated Press, "We're quite happy that 7% of the planet has this album, and they can enjoy it at their leisure."
