U2DMfan
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Cigar said:
Well, look at it this way, let's suppose that U2 turned over their finished eleventh album to Universal/Interscope on August 1st, they might ask that the album be released in September but it's virtually impossible for the label to produce and market the album in that short of a period. Plus the label would never do that for a big band like U2, they want to maximize their market. The label isn't going to release it until they can adequately hype it up.
Almost without fail, it takes about 90 days (sometimes a little more) to release an album from the point it's delivered to the label. This is due to a working schedule that most of the major labels have, if not all, about marketing, releasing the single, allowing the single and video to promote the album, allowing the artist themselves to promote the album by perfomring on TV, or doing interviews. Also, the label has to actually have the artwork, track sequence, etc in hand to begin producing the album.
Basically, to answer your question, U2 has somewhat of say when the album is going to be released based on when they 'deliver' the album. Based on the November 22nd date, I would guess that it has been already delivered. That's when it becomes official, and that's when the announcement is made.
Once Universal/Interscope has, the album, track sequencing, artwork, title, choice for the first single (not all artists get to pick their singles) etc. Then they make the announcement, or U2 could, I assume make that announcement on their own, but the actual date of release is always determined by the label.
Truthfully if Universal/Interscope said November 22nd and the band said "No, we want you to release it a week or two later" they would probably do that for a band like U2, but they probably wouldn't move it up for anyone because it would cost them money. And we know they would never do that.
= the U2 camp. It?s like walking in the desert. I want to be fed with news...ASAP. 
