He said: "The people who don't want the free U2 download Songs Of Innocence are trying to say, 'Don't try to force me.' And they've got a point. Part of the process when you buy something from an artist, it's kind of an anointing, you are giving people love. It's your choice to give or withhold. You felt like they were robbed of that chance and they have a point."

Pop tackled a range of topics during his speech, including his own history, the music industry, piracy and new digital music business models, like the one used by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke.