14 DAY TRIAL // Asked about Apple’s stunt last year involving that free U2 album, Pink Floyd's Nick Mason reveals in a Rolling Stone interview that Apple “got off scot-free” in the debacle, leaving U2 to do most of the apologizing.
Mason admits he’d have been just as tempted to accept Apple’s $50 million (€43 million) offer and have his work distributed in the same way, but he also accuses Apple of affecting the music industry in a negative way with such initiatives.
He came to this conclusion after witnessing the backlash caused by Apple downright forcing the album (Songs of Innocence) onto people’s iDevices.
“Look, U2 are a great band, and Bono's an extraordinary individual, so this isn't an anti-U2 tirade,” he said. “But it highlights a vital aspect to the whole idea of music in the 21st century. What's also interesting is that Apple seem to have got off scot-free. No one's blaming them. Apple has done great things, but it has also contributed to the devaluation process.”
To this day I’m amazed at the fiasco surrounding the U2 album offered for free to every iDevice user. Just delete the thing and move on.
No need to drag Apple and U2 through the mud for giving you free music. Bet your iPhone you’d have kept it in a world without the Internet.