Group will reveal single Invisible in conjunction with Bank of America, who have agreed to donate up to a million pounds to the Global Fund to Fight Aids Tuberculosis and Malaria.
U2 have confirmed plans to premiere a new song during next weekend's Super Bowl. Invisible, from the group's as-yet-unannounced 13th studio album, will appear on a commercial as part of a team-up by Bank of America and Bono's Red campaign.
Once the commercial airs, fans will have 24 hours to pick up Invisible as a free download from the iTunes Store. During that period, Bank of America have agreed to donate up to $2m (£1.2m) to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria - allotting $1 (£0.60) to the charity every time the song is downloaded.
However, Bank of America's $2m download promise is much smaller than what they are reportedly paying to air an ad during the Super Bowl. Fox Sports are allegedly charging advertisers around $4m (£2.4) for each 30-second commercial. But Bank of America have pledged to generate more than $10m (£6m) altogether, as well as soliciting donations from the public. For U2 and friends, the American football game's 120m viewers are an enormous pool of possible donors.
"[This is] the kind of game-changing influence that will not just deliver millions of dollars but raise consciousness and keep public pressure on putting an end to this devastating pandemic," Bono said in a statement. According to his press release, the Gates Foundation, SAP and South Africa's Motsepe mining clan have "matched" the Bank of America's financial commitment "for a total [donation] of $22m". "Incredible," the singer said.
Invisible will be the second new song to have been released by U2 in recent months. The first, Ordinary Love, appeared as part of the soundtrack to Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom. It is one of five Oscar nominees for best original song.
U2's new record, their first since 2009, is thought to have been produced by Danger Mouse.
"I can't really discuss it so I can't really quote anything about it but it's still ongoing and that's all I can really say, to be honest," Danger Mouse said in a Rolling Stone interview published this week. According to Billboard, Interscope will be releasing the LP in the United States, with Island Records representing the band everywhere else.
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