The iTunes-exclusive album's 'commercial' release date misses the 57th Grammy Awards' Sept. 30 eligibility period deadline.
Despite the introduction at Tuesday's iPhone unveiling as the most Grammy Award-winning band in history, U2's surprise album Songs of Innocence will not be eligible for the next Grammy Awards.
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That's because even though U2's new set is now available as a free download to iTunes Store account holders and for streaming on Beats Music, just as its Billboard chart debut is postponed to the official Oct. 14 commercial release date so too is its Grammy eligibility. And with the 57th Grammy Awards' eligibility period closing Sept. 30, Songs of Innocence misses that deadline and will have to wait until next year's Grammy Awards.