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U2 Announce New Album 'Songs Of Innocence', Available As A Free Download From The iTunes Store

The New U2 Album Won't Cost You A Penny
The Huffington Post UK
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U2 have surprised fans by releasing their first album in five years, ‘Songs of Innocence’ - and the good news is it won’t cost you a penny to listen to it.

Following a performance at an Apple event in California on Tuesday - where the tech giants unveiled the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch - the band announced that iTunes users would be able to download their brand new album for free.

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U2 at the Academy Awards earlier this year

Speaking about his excitement to collaborate with Apple, lead singer Bono said: “From the very beginning U2 have always wanted our music to reach as many people as possible, the clue is in our name I suppose - so today is kind of mind-blowing to us.

“Working with Apple is always a blast. They only want to do things that haven’t been done before - that’s a thrill to be part of.”

He also revealed that he was hoping the fact the free download experience would encourage more people to listen to their album, explaining: "The most personal album we've written could be shared with half a billion people… by hitting send. If only songwriting was that easy.

“It’s exciting and humbling to think that people who don’t know U2 or listen to rock music for that matter might check us out.”

The group had previously teased that an album was coming this year, with Bono telling Rolling Stone magazine: “We wanted to make a very personal album.

“The whole album is first journeys - first journeys geographically, spiritually, sexually. And that's hard. But we went there.”

‘Songs Of Innocence’ will remain exclusive to iTunes as a free download until 13 October.

Bono looking smug
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Irish musician Bono arrives at 10 Downing street in central London on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Stella McCartney - Front Row - PFW F/W 2013(02 of10)
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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 04: Bono and his wife Ali Hewson attend the Stella McCartney Fall/Winter 2013 Ready-to-Wear show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 4, 2013 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Edun - Backstage - Fall 2013 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week(03 of10)
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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 07: Edun co-founder Bono (R) speaks to the media backstage at the Edun Fall 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Skylight West on February 7, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Joe Kohen/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) (credit:Getty Images)
Bono Visits The World Bank(04 of10)
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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 14: Bono speaks during a visit at the World Bank on November 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Riccardo S. Savi/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FRANCE-POLITICS-HOLLANDE-GATES-BONO(05 of10)
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Irish musician and humanitarian activist Bono (R) and Microsoft co-founder turned global philanthropist Bill Gates speak to the press after a meeting at the Elysee Palace on October 10, 2012 in Paris. AFP PHOTO / LIONEL BONAVENTURE (Photo credit should read LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
GQ Men of the Year Awards 2012(06 of10)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 04: Bono attends the GQ Men of the Year Awards 2012 at The Royal Opera House on September 4, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar Viewing Party - Arrivals(07 of10)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Singer Bono arrives at the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar Viewing Party on February 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu K(08 of10)
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Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (L) listens to U2 singer Bono as they arrive on June 18, 2012 for a press conference at the Oslo Forum at Losby Gods in Lorenskog, Norway. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi has received superstar treatment and been cheered by crowds of many thousands as she visited Norway on her first Europe trip in a quarter-century after years of house arrest. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL SANNUM LAUTEN (Photo credit should read DANIEL SANNUM LAUTEN/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
(RED) And Beats By Dr. Dre Kick Off (RED) RUSH TO ZERO Campaign(09 of10)
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NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 02: Bono attends (RED) And Beats By Dr. Dre Kick Off (RED) RUSH TO ZERO Campaign at Beats By Dr. Dre Store on June 2, 2012 in Soho in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for (RED)) (credit:Getty Images)
Prince Bernhard Culture Fund Awards(10 of10)
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AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - NOVEMBER 28: U2 singer Bono attends the Prince Bernhard Culture Fund Awards on November 28, 2011 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Michel Porro/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

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