According to Time, the band is working on a new digital music format that will get music fans buying music again - not just individual tracks, but albums, too.

Bono told the magazine that he hopes this secret project will help lesser known artists and others in the industry who can't make money on live performances actually make some money. "Songwriters aren't touring people," Bono said. "Cole Porter wouldn't have sold T-shirts. Cole Porter wasn't coming to a stadium near you."

In an interview with CBS Radio's KROQ, Bono talked about the surprise release being a punk rock move. "The punk rock thing to do is annoy people and get in their faces," he said. "If people have a problem with the way we released the album, I'm sure they've read about it online."