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All the money Apple Computer poured into promoting U2 wasn't enough.

The Irish rock band, which will probably be named as an inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next week, hit No. 1 this week with its new album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. But it's a bittersweet victory.

Initially, U2 was thought to have sold between 900,000 and 1 million copies of its new CD in the opening week. To make that more likely, Interscope Records (part of the Universal Music Group) slashed the retail price almost in half last Friday to pump up sales at places like Best Buy, according to Web site HitsDailyDouble.com.

But even with an incredible marketing plan tied to Apple's iPod, it looks like the album fell short of the million mark. When all the numbers are wrapped up today, the CD will probably have sold closer to 750,000, and maybe even a little less.

That's no small feat these days, but consider what Atomic Bomb might have sold if it hadn't been illegally available on so many file-sharing services. This reporter was able to pull it off the Web about 10 days before its official release, and that was with a lot of squinting and a bottle full of Aleve.

Younger fans, more adept at such matters, no doubt had Atomic Bomb sizzling in their headphones long before that. I hope they appreciate the beauty of a song like "Original of the Species" -- it's one of U2's best ever.

Interscope looks like it might also have had a problem with the first solo album by Gwen Stefani, lead singer of No Doubt. Her Love.Angel.Music.Baby will come in around No. 6 with 250,000 copies sold, just a notch or so ahead of American Idol star Fantasia Barrino's debut on J Records.



© Fox News, 2004.

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February 10 2012 Joshua Tree Tribute Band Performance Join in the fun of Winterfest! February 17 2012 2-U Tribute Band Performance Catch the band tonight in York. Full Calendar