Unfortunately, U2 and its management are stuck in the 80's. Okay the decade wasn't so bad. But the problem is, they haven't changed their release methods since about 1980!
They don't realise that the year is 2008!, they can easily put a single out on iTunes....ummm.....they could pull a Bloc Party and release the album 2 MONTHS EARLY online , before the hardcopy is due. They could even pull a Racontures, but I guess they are too attention seeking.
This Is why, and its not because I dislike him, but a change in U2's management and get rid of Eno and Lanois to shake things up, and I'm willing to put my parents house on it, things would be better!
Wow...
CD sales - yes, old-fashioned CD sales - can still be huge for certain artists. Granted, this isn't the 80's or 90's where the top 10 albums all sold at least 50,000 copies, even during a "slow period". However, 2008 showed that artists can still sell 750K to 1M copies in their first week even if it's not the holiday season. Coldplay showed this and I imagine U2 will as well.
However, holiday sales easily add to this. During that 7/8 week period, from about mid-November to the first week of January, an artist can easily sell far more than they did during the rest of the year. This is why there are SO many releases at that time. Trouble is, with so many releases, some can get lost - only the really big ones stand out. U2 is one of those groups that can count on big holiday sales. U2 is also one of those groups that providing the album is strong, will see the album still in the Top 100 the following holiday season (as was true for AB, ATYCLB and HTDAAB). Having an album in the Top 100 for two Christmas seasons shows not only initial strength, but good legs - that means the album was very well received by the public.
With iTunes, U2 can do a lot. I often feel artists still haven't grasped the full potential of iTunes. U2 have done more with their "box set", which is a great start. However, I often think that an artist could really drum up business by having the main hit song along with a "free b-side" thrown in. Or, if that's "impossible", then charge $1.49 (U.S.) for this extra song. For 50 cents, fans would love it and it would generate even more sales and exposure.
As for releasing the actual album on iTunes 2 months before the CD - this is illogical. What's to gain?
In the 90's, Pearl Jam released a vinyl only version of their album a week or so before the CD version. Fans rushed to buy it, but also complained as record players were fading and they wouldn't have a great way to listen to the music. Likewise, not everyone uses or wants to use iTunes (or other online sources). Why force fans to do this? Why not have the album on iTunes and on CD at the same time?
Plus, if the album isn't ready, the album isn't ready. An early iTunes release is moot.
Ideally, the best time for U2 to release this album is about 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. They'd have the big first week, then the whole holiday season to enjoy. If the album is strong, it will linger in the Top 100 for quite a while (as U2's past few releases have done).
But if the album isn't ready, then a March release is most logical. No one releases albums in January - period. That's the worst time for a release. But a March or April release is feasible. The competition will be less and U2 will be able to dominate the charts for a while (even if they take a bit of a hit in sales).