U2 controversy

SONGS OF EXPERIENCE: The music-industry bible’s claim that only around 200k people in the U.S. downloaded the free U2 album from iTunes on Tuesday is causing a major uproar in the band’s camp. No one has yet confirmed that figure to us, and both Apple and UMG have hotly disputed it, expressing outrage over the publication of that number. Meanwhile, issues of timing (the day was half-over when Apple announced it) and iTunes Store bandwidth make that first-day metric dubious at best. But a controversy is certainly raging around Apple’s decision to place it in users’ purchased music without their consent—some have gone so far as to characterize it as a violation. Meanwhile, wonderers are wondering if the band will be announcing its tour shortly, given that arenas nationwide are said to be on hold. Inquiring minds want to know: When is that shoe going to drop? But another related shoe has already dropped: last night, during the CBS Thursday Night Football telecast, this fancy-looking 60-second spot made its debut. (9/12a)