Beyonce was hardly the first to do this last year David Bowie and Jay-Z (and even Kanye, releasing no singles) had similar strategies. Beyonce's defining thing was the video for every song which no one else has imitated.
Did a quick Google for Beyonce & U2 - and already these came up. These were just the few. I have yet to see a comparison to Jay & Bowie.
COS: After debuting a new song live, the band announced that their latest album, Songs of Innocence, is being released for free on iTunes starting today. Yes, they simultaneously pulled a Beyoncé
11. "The Troubles"
Produced by: Danger Mouse
Another tune name-checked by Bono earlier this year, "The Troubles" was presumed to be another U2 song about the political situation in Northern Ireland, but it's more about Bono learning to move on from his own problems. Guest singer Lykke Li repeats the refrain "somebody stepped inside your soul", and Bono reflects on his own redemption: "I have a will for survival/So you can hurt me then hurt me some more/I can live with denial/But you're not my troubles anymore"