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U2 offer 8-track live CD to U2.com subscribers

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In a bid to retain their many subscribers after their first full membership year, U2.com are offering an ‘exclusive’ CD/CD-ROM double disc set called ‘U2 Communication’ to current members, and an additional 20% discount on the $40 subscription fee.

The CD’s exclusivity is debatable, since the 8 tracks are taken from the current Vertigo live DVD which many U2.com subscribers are likely to have acquired. It looks rather sexy, though, and this fan has already succumbed to its lure.

The offer was made via a U2.com mail shot which was sent out this Tuesday.

From the e-mail: This package, which will not be available at retail, contains an 8-track CD featuring songs recorded live during the Vertigo Tour; and a CD-ROM containing an interactive audio player, an exclusive live video clip from U2’s Vertigo 2005 show at Milan’s San Siro stadium, as well as wallpapers and U2 screen savers using the show’s amazing imagery.

U2.com staff further apologise for the 2005 ticket snafu and state they continue to look into fair ways to distribute tickets to fans. They stress however, that the subscription renewal does not include any distribution solution or any guarantee of tickets to future shows. No change there, then. Boom boom.

U2’s Larry Mullen writes open letter to U2.com members

Larry Mullen has written an open letter to U2.com members, which arrived in our mailbox today just in time for our morning coffee break:

Dear (insert U2.com member name here),

This is not something that I would normally do, but I feel that I have to do something to redress this situation.

There was a mess up in the way the tickets were distributed through U2.com for the Vertigo pre-sale. Some of it was beyond our control, but some of it wasn’t.

I am now in the process of figuring out a way of distributing the tickets for our intended return to North America in the fall. The only fair way of doing this, is to give U2 Propaganda members, who are now U2.com members, priority in the queue.

After that, people will be given priority in the order in which they joined.

Many people who joined U2.com and didn’t get tickets are understandably angry. They now have the option to get a full refund of their subscription fee.

The idea that our long-time U2 fans and scalpers competed for U2 tickets through our own website is appalling to me. I want to apologise to you who have suffered that.

If your U2.com pre-sale experience has left you disappointed, I hope this will go some way towards reassuring you of our total commitment to our audience.

Slainte
Larry.

By the way, a note to those so-called U2 fans who are quick to accuse U2 of unseemly behaviour, I’ve only got two words for you…

This letter was also published on U2.com.

Thanks, Larry. It’s good to get a statement from a bandmember and truly encouraging to hear you’re looking into this matter personally. Fair play to ya. Don’t be too hard on fans who question, rather than follow blindly. They’re the ones that are prepared to show up even when the going gets tough. Those who love the most, hurt the most, you must know that. Good health to yourself, too and we’ll be seeing you on the road.