The legendary Irish singer is the latest to take aim at U2's $100 million deal with Apple.

U2's decision to offer their new album as a free download to iTunes users (in return for a truckload of Apple's cash) seemed like a slam dunk. The first new U2 album in five years, released without warning to a platform to enable fans to download it instantly and free of charge. What could go wrong?

A lot, it turns out. Despite being available to a potential audience of 500 million iTunes users, reports last week suggested that only 200,000 people had actually download the album and bands like Bombay Bicycle Club decried the move as being "invasive".

Irish singer Paul Brady is the latest to join the chorus of disenchantment, writing on his Facebook page that the move is another "nail in the coffin" in the sustainability of the music business.

Brady wrote: 

"So U2 gave away their album? I guess any of us would give away our work in return for reputedly $100 million. But what about the rest of the musical artists in the world who were kind of hoping that proceeds from the sale of their records to the public might go some way to offsetting the cost of producing them?
This is a further and highly visible nail in the coffin of a sustainable music business from a band that continually waffles on about fairness and human values. Music costs money to make. It has value. It should not be given away free. Shame on you, U2."