Although they have recently been criticized a sell-outs by some for their affiliation with Apple's iPod, U2 continues to stay ahead of the consumer curve with innovative marketing and fresh ideas. [And BTW: their affiliation with Apple was a direct retaliation against the recording industry’s slow movement to embrace [and capitalize on] digital technology]

A Reuters news story reported that “Irish rockstar Bono brought traffic to a standstill at the heart of New York on Monday, blasting out songs from U2's latest album as the band cruised down Broadway on a flatbed truck.

Office workers on their lunch-breaks whipped out their camera phones to catch the surprise appearance by the band whose album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" is released in Britain on Monday and in the United States on Tuesday.

The stunt was filmed for the video of the forthcoming single "All Because of You" and the band was due to make another free appearance in Brooklyn later in the day. “

As I write this, I can actually see them from my office window right now. They set up shop at noon. The press release came out at 1:30. Now there must be a thousand people who have treked over to DUMBO via the bridge, through water taxi and by car to get a glimpse of the band. What a great example of buzz marketing. Like them or not, you must admit they're not about to let their "big band" status fade anytime soon....