Apple and EMI Music Launch 'iTunes Pass' Short-Term Subscriptions [Archive]

smurfjammer

Feb 24, 2009, 02:41 AM

I found this in the spanish itunes store terms but it's not in the UK, USA or NZ Terms:

iTUNES PASS

iTunes Pass gives buyers a variety of selected content (which can include songs, albums, music videos and editorial content) for sale by a particular artist, group or group of artists during a predetermined fixed period (the "Period Pass "). The full cost of the Pass iTunes is charged at the time of purchase. The purchase price of iTunes Pass not exceed fair market value of individual items offered as part of iTunes Pass. Do not offer refunds, returns or refunds. The content available at the time (if any) will be downloaded after the purchase from the iTunes Pass. The future of iTunes Pass is available for download as it is available on iTunes. To download, connect to iTunes and select "Check for Available Downloads" (Search for available downloads) the "Store" (store) in iTunes 8 (or "Check for Purchases" (Check for Purchases) the "Store" in iTunes 7 ). Any new content available as part of an iTunes download Pass may be purchased at the time. The buyer must connect to iTunes and download any content from the iTunes Left Pass in the course of 90 days at the end of the Pass Period (or such other period as may be specified in the purchase page), after which it is possible that the remaining content available for download as part of the purchase from the iTunes Pass.

juniormaj

Feb 24, 2009, 06:05 AM

I thought there must be some new feature being added to the store because when I bought some music an hour ago I had to agree to the store terms again. They always do that when the terms change.

sketchy

Feb 24, 2009, 09:26 AM

it's new today, and available in the US store. Depeche Mode is the first band to use the concept.

mzd

Feb 24, 2009, 09:56 AM

odd. for the depeche mode album, there are only 14 tracks showing ($13.86), yet the pass is $18.99. i wonder what else will be included?? the TOS do say the pass price won't exceed fair market value.

sketchy

Feb 24, 2009, 10:08 AM

odd. for the depeche mode album, there are only 14 tracks showing ($13.86), yet the pass is $18.99. i wonder what else will be included?? the TOS do say the pass price won't exceed fair market value.

anything thay add to the store between the 24th (today) and June 16th. so remixes, new singles, videos, and possibly other stuff.

MacRumors

Feb 24, 2009, 11:51 AM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/02/24/apple-and-emi-music-launch-itunes-pass-short-term-subscriptions/)

EMI Music announced (http://www.emi.com/page/emi/AboutEMINews2009/0,,12641~1568634,00.html) today that they have launched the first 'iTunes Pass', providing automatic downloads of all releases from a given artist within a specific time period. The first artist available under this program is Depeche Mode, with the current iTunes Pass available at a cost of $18.99 and good through June 16th, 2009.[i]The first iTunes Pass debuts today in conjunction with Depeche Mode's forthcoming 12th studio album, Sounds of the Universe, to be released on April 21 in the US. Fans who sign up starting today get the alternative/dance pioneers' new single, Wrong, as well as the Black Light Odyssey Dub Remix of the new track Oh Well. They will also receive the new album on its street date plus great music and video exclusives before and after the album's release over the next fifteen weeks. The Depeche Mode iTunes Pass can be purchased starting today for $18.99.According to Apple's information document on iTunes Pass [iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/iTunesPassLearnMorePage)], all music is delivered in DRM-free iTunes Plus format, and while the contents of a given pass are not necessarily fully outlined at the time of purchase and are subject to change over time, the price of the pass will not exceed the value of the contents offered. Apple also discloses on their iTunes Store Terms of Service (http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/us/terms.html) that, unless otherwise specified, all content must be downloaded within 90 days after the end of the pass period.

Article Link: Apple and EMI Music Launch 'iTunes Pass' Short-Term Subscriptions (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/02/24/apple-and-emi-music-launch-itunes-pass-short-term-subscriptions/)

talkingfuture

Feb 24, 2009, 11:54 AM

It sounds a little weird. We'll have to see how this develops with other acts.

alexbates

Feb 24, 2009, 11:54 AM

purchase iTunes? Why isnt it free?

happydude

Feb 24, 2009, 12:00 PM

so i take it this is only for pre-specified music, not an $18.99 pass to the entire iTMS . . . i think i'll stick to my personal choices in music purchasing, thanks.

edit:
re-read the article. ok, so from a given artist. that could be interesting depending on which artists are chosen for future pass thingies. as for current artist, not so much interested.

alexbates

Feb 24, 2009, 12:02 PM

Aaleck

Feb 24, 2009, 12:03 PM

Shucks. Got my hopes up... I saw 'iTunes Pass' and a cheer went through my head... later to be disappointed. When I had my Zune when they first came out, thats the one thing I loved about it: The Zune Pass

Macjames

Feb 24, 2009, 12:03 PM

i can see a benefit, but not much. Not for me!

theheadguy

Feb 24, 2009, 12:04 PM

Sounds a bit unorthodox but more variety the better I suppose.

Mudbug

Feb 24, 2009, 12:04 PM

Hooray! They finally managed to take something as simple as buying music in iTunes and make it thoroughly confusing.

alexbates

Feb 24, 2009, 12:06 PM

Hooray! They finally managed to take something as simple as buying music in iTunes and make it thoroughly confusing.

I agree that Apple has made a big mistake. I still dont even fully understand what this service even is yet. They shouldn't make it so confusing.

OllyW

Feb 24, 2009, 12:07 PM

purchase iTunes? Why isnt it free?

I have decided to not purchase it. If the only difference the the music purchasing, I would rather stick with the regular free iTunes. I might decide to pay $20 if Apple comes out with a version of iTunes with more features though.

Have you actually read the first post?

You are not buying iTunes, you are just buying a pass for a series of releases from the group Depeche Mode.

mode101

Feb 24, 2009, 12:07 PM

I have decided to not purchase it. If the only difference the the music purchasing, I would rather stick with the regular free iTunes. I might decide to pay $20 if Apple comes out with a version of iTunes with more features though.

This is more like a season pass for television shows, not a different version of iTunes. Depeche mode has a new album, singles etc. coming out over the next few months. This just seems like a way to get everything for one price. I'll wait to see if they include any exclusives, or if it's just the stuff you can get at the record stores, since I'd rather have a physical copy, anyway. And yes, I'm a huge Depeche Mode fan.

krye

Feb 24, 2009, 12:07 PM

I don't get it. $19 for a CD? Is there more? What gives?

brygruver

Feb 24, 2009, 12:08 PM

gmcalpin

Feb 24, 2009, 12:10 PM

Read the freakin' article, people. It's a season pass, except for a band.

I don't get it. $19 for a CD? Is there more? What gives?

The album, any singles, video and music "exclusives"... it's says all this right there in the article.

OllyW

Feb 24, 2009, 12:10 PM

I don't get it. $19 for a CD? Is there more? What gives?

You are not just getting the CD. You will also receive other music and videos associated with the album.

It tells you in the first post. :rolleyes:

The first iTunes Pass debuts today in conjunction with Depeche Mode's forthcoming 12th studio album, Sounds of the Universe, to be released on April 21 in the US. Fans who sign up starting today get the alternative/dance pioneers' new single, Wrong, as well as the Black Light Odyssey Dub Remix of the new track Oh Well. They will also receive the new album on its street date plus great music and video exclusives before and after the album's release over the next fifteen weeks. The Depeche Mode iTunes Pass can be purchased starting today for $18.99.

ChrisA

Feb 24, 2009, 12:12 PM

So let's see... If I buy the Pass now I can pay full price in advance for something before I even know if I'll like it or if I don't buy the Pass I can pay the same price later after hearing it first. I'll have to think about this for a while.

I don't see why I'd want a pass. If I buy it I get the have the album on it's "street date" but I can get that without a pass. That's why they call it a "street date" I don't get anything early. I don't get a break on the price and I don't get anything I can't get without the pass. Oh, but I do get to pay in advance.

I think I must be missing something.

OllyW

Feb 24, 2009, 12:15 PM

I think I must be missing something.

This line maybe?

........plus great music and video exclusives before and after the album's release over the next fifteen weeks.

iParis

Feb 24, 2009, 12:16 PM

What? Uhh... Who is giving Apple the drugs?!:confused:

Eric S.

Feb 24, 2009, 12:16 PM

Thanks, but no thanks. And Depeche Mode? Aren't they, like, so 80s?

mode101

Feb 24, 2009, 12:18 PM

I really think this is aimed at fans of Depeche Mode. The real fans want the physical media, and usually bypass paying Apple for it. If they include some exclusives, fans might be more prone to spend money in iTunes to get the stuff they can't get at the record store.

Edit: This would apply to fans of other bands as well, Depeche Mode is just the first.

egdiroh

Feb 24, 2009, 12:18 PM

So they finally looked at artists releases and realized that album release was not just an album, but a bunch of minor content leading up to the album, the album, and maybe some tail end stuff.

So they are letting people buy all the content tied to one release up front, which is good. because presumably the users get a worthwhile amount of content with out having to worry to much about double buying things to get all the extras, and good for the artists/publishers because they have people getting the leading edge stuff and building buzz for the album itself.

wonderbread57

Feb 24, 2009, 12:18 PM

Read the whole story people

This is a good idea. Depeche Mode has piles of songs. $19 would be a great deal to download them all. I also like this as a step forward in the direction towards and iTunes subscription services which I would eat up, giving access to all the iTunes library for a monthly fee. I don't really care if it's DRM as long as they let me burn 1 CD per day.

zombitronic

Feb 24, 2009, 12:19 PM

Depeche Mode sucks, but that's beside the point. I really don't get the major benefit of this, either.

gmcalpin

Feb 24, 2009, 12:20 PM

So let's see... If I buy the Pass now I can pay full price in advance for something before I even know if I'll like it or if I don't buy the Pass I can pay the same price later after hearing it first. ... I think I must be missing something.

Yeah, it's a little weird that you don't know what you're getting. But this is for the hardcore fans only: the completists who get everything by Depeche Mode (or whatever other bands might do this), sight unseen, samples unheard. It doesn't matter; if a band puts it out, these fans will get it.

I'm that way about Radiohead, Andrew Bird, Sigur Ros, and some others. (Well, not videos or remixes, generally. But any albums and B-sides, anyway.)

nagromme

Feb 24, 2009, 12:22 PM

Pretty weird.

I guess if you know ahead of time enough of what you're getting to be worth the price, then it's OK... but I don't see the need for this. Just another way to market a band, I guess? Banners on the iTunes home page and plain-old coupon promos seemed to meet those needs already.

Oh well, experiment away! :)

Sky Blue

Feb 24, 2009, 12:24 PM

Wow, people in this thread are stupid.
not interested for DM, but might be for other artists.

Orng

Feb 24, 2009, 12:24 PM

I would consider it for a new band that I liked if I thought they had a lot of potential.

zombitronic

Feb 24, 2009, 12:25 PM

Read the whole story people

This is a good idea. Depeche Mode has piles of songs. $19 would be a great deal to download them all.

I don't think you get the entire back catalog. The quote reads:

providing automatic downloads of all releases from a given artist within a specific time period. The first artist available under this program is Depeche Mode, with the current iTunes Pass [iTunes] available at a cost of $18.99 and good through June 16th, 2009.

I understood that as you get anything released from now until June 16th. That's likely to be one album, some singles and a video or two.

OS X Dude

Feb 24, 2009, 12:28 PM

it's great because the Mode are my fave band.

It's crap because it isn't available in the UK (iTunes Pass). I own all their CDs anyway, I have several copies of some :P

Diode

Feb 24, 2009, 12:28 PM

Very smart. The new music model will be to cater to your "#1 fans" by providing them premium content at a premium price.

I expect lots to follow suite.

Jarbo

Feb 24, 2009, 12:30 PM

dhollister

Feb 24, 2009, 12:32 PM

Hey guys, take it easy. This is a weird solution, but I can guarantee it will also be temporary. It will get better and cheaper over time. It will involve different artists, and this could even be a stepping stone towards a subscription service.

Sure, this particular deal is confusing and not terribly interesting to most of us (Depeche Mode? Really?) but there's no denying that EMI is dipping their feet in the water of something that can end up being a lot bigger and better than it currently is. EMI is, after all, the label that went 100% DRM-free before the others would even give thought to it.

So give credit where credit is due. This is a rather lame test, but one that is surely a precursor to some cool stuff down the road.

OllyW

Feb 24, 2009, 12:32 PM

it's great because the Mode are my fave band.

It's crap because it isn't available in the UK (iTunes Pass). I own all their CDs anyway, I have several copies of some :P

You don't own the music covered by this pass though, it hasn't been released yet.

As a few other people have already said, this doesn't give you the entire Depeche Mode back catalogue for $18.99, just the new material they are releasing in the next few months.

dam0dred

Feb 24, 2009, 12:32 PM

I don't like it. You're asked to spend money on content that you don't know the quantity or quality of. With a season pass you know exactly what you're getting. With this, you might just get stuck with a bunch of lame remixes and dubs you would never listen to.

dhollister

Feb 24, 2009, 12:35 PM

Why is it tied to a "Specific time period" rather than a specific amount of content.

It's like a subscription service. You pay Netflix a monthy fee, not a "however long it takes you to watch all of our movies" fee. That would obviously not be sustainable.

I don't like it. You're asked to spend money on content that you don't know the quantity or quality of. With a season pass you know exactly what you're getting. With this, you might just get stuck with a bunch of lame remixes and dubs you would never listen to.

Like a few people have said, this isn't for the casual listener. If Depeche Mode were your favorite band ever (and there are quite a few people out there with that point of view, I am sure) then this would be a no-brainer. EMI and iTunes are relying on the hardcore fans to make this profitable, and more power to them.

In may ways, this attempt is similar to how NIN made a ton of money off giving their albums away for free, because the hardcore fans would pay for the limited/signed/whatever edition.

carfac

Feb 24, 2009, 12:35 PM

So can you also download PREVIOUS releases by DM during the pass period?

Do you keep the misuc, or can you only play it during the period?

So confusing!

Don't like the DM much, I would do that for the Beatles. Oh, no Beatles yet on iTunes? CD's are still a better idea.

gwangung

Feb 24, 2009, 12:36 PM

How can you predict how much content will come to be?

Why is it tied to a "Specific time period" rather than a specific amount of content?

Way to confuse the consumer guys.

Let's have a premium subscription and a student subscription and a home subscription while we are at it. Maybe they can make them all really similar so we can't tell the difference. Sounds like the windows vista model.

Jeezus, you guys are dim.

This is for fans for XXX band. NOT FOR YOU. OF COURSE this is going to be something that would appeal for fans of that band. It's BASIC MARKETING.

Good thing Apple doesn't take marketing "advice" from you geniuses...

OllyW

Feb 24, 2009, 12:37 PM

So can you also download PREVIOUS releases by DM during the pass period?

Give me strength! :rolleyes:

OS X Dude

Feb 24, 2009, 12:37 PM

You don't own the music covered by this pass though, it hasn't been released yet.

As a few other people have already said, this doesn't give you the entire Depeche Mode back catalogue for $18.99, just the new material they are releasing in the next few months.

Ahh, well I'll just get it off Amazon (their new CD) for about a tenner anyway :P

Their tour is a joke - one night in the UK at the feckin' O2 Arena which is an absolute BITCH to get to. The car park can't accommodate half of the seating capacity the arena has, so you have to park miles away.

Great band though, love them :)

bbq2k

Feb 24, 2009, 12:41 PM

amac4me

Feb 24, 2009, 12:42 PM

Interesting development!

Jarbo

Feb 24, 2009, 12:44 PM

Jeezus, you guys are dim.

This is for fans for XXX band. NOT FOR YOU. OF COURSE this is going to be something that would appeal for fans of that band. It's BASIC MARKETING.

Good thing Apple doesn't take marketing "advice" from you geniuses...

I'm a fan of lotsa bands. But I won't pony up cash before I hear what it is they are up to. Many great band produce crap.

And in any case, the unknown quality of the product aside, My issue is that they don't even seem to be quantifying the amount of content. Do I get 3 videos? 2? How many songs? How many extras? A subscription only makes sense if I know what I get and when.

I wouldn't subscribe to a magazine if I didn't know how many issues I was getting or how frequently.

bbq2k

Feb 24, 2009, 12:45 PM

Jeezus, you guys are dim.

This is for fans for XXX band. NOT FOR YOU. OF COURSE this is going to be something that would appeal for fans of that band. It's BASIC MARKETING.

Good thing Apple doesn't take marketing "advice" from you geniuses...

Yes, because every crack marketer knows that consumers prefer to pay more and get less, as long as they're FANS of some band or other. :rolleyes:

Your attitude far exceeds your aptitude, buddy.

zombitronic

Feb 24, 2009, 12:45 PM

So can you also download PREVIOUS releases by DM during the pass period?

No, I don't believe the pass covers previous releases. It sounds like it only covers content released within a set time period.

Do you keep the misuc, or can you only play it during the period?

It sounds like you do keep the downloaded content after the time period has passed.

Like a few people have said, this isn't for the casual listener. If Depeche Mode were your favorite band ever (and there are quite a few people out there with that point of view, I am sure) then this would be a no-brainer. EMI and iTunes are relying on the hardcore fans to make this profitable, and more power to them.

Jeezus, you guys are dim.

This is for fans for XXX band. NOT FOR YOU. OF COURSE this is going to be something that would appeal for fans of that band. It's BASIC MARKETING.

Good thing Apple doesn't take marketing "advice" from you geniuses...

If I were that much of a fan, I'd rather have the full quality CD version which I could rip into lossless format, not to mention the physical album art that comes with it. Although, unlike the current trends, I don't buy any of my music in digital form. It still seems iffy.

dam0dred

Feb 24, 2009, 12:45 PM

It's like a subscription service. You pay Netflix a monthy fee, not a "however long it takes you to watch all of our movies" fee. That would obviously not be sustainable.

Like a few people have said, this isn't for the casual listener. If Depeche Mode were your favorite band ever (and there are quite a few people out there with that point of view, I am sure) then this would be a no-brainer. EMI and iTunes are relying on the hardcore fans to make this profitable, and more power to them.

In may ways, this attempt is similar to how NIN made a ton of money off giving their albums away for free, because the hardcore fans would pay for the limited/signed/whatever edition.

I'm actually a pretty big fan. :) But I'm still not convinced. Perhaps if this turns out to be an incredible value offering something like 50$ worth of content, I'll change my mind. But, knowing the record companies, I'm dubious about all this.

bytethese

Feb 24, 2009, 12:45 PM

Give me strength! :rolleyes:

It's like deciding to go on a diet while sitting in a bakery after 12hrs of fasting...

Anyways, I guess if you knew that your fav band was going to release some kickass stuff like CD's, videos, exclusive singles, special booklets (in PDF form of course) then this may not be a bad idea. Too bad it's Depeche Mode...

Kar98

Feb 24, 2009, 12:46 PM

This is not some special version of iTunes, nor is it a subscription.

You pay a pre-determined price, you get everything that the artist releases between a certain time period.

In this particular case, Depeche Mode, $18.99, everything released from now until June 16th, 2009. (Including albums, singles, videos, etc.)

If you don't like Depeche Mode, this isn't for you. Wait until your favorite artist has an offer like this.

I do like Depeche Mode (3.40 GB of my iTunes collection), but this sounds like the TomTom subscription: get all the map updates we'll release within the next 90 days for free! And then there aren't any updates for 91 days. Or maybe the Woot bag o'crap.
Not paying until I know what I'm getting.

williej81

Feb 24, 2009, 12:47 PM

Why is this so hard to understand?

1) This iTunes-Pass is geared towards fans of the band it is for, the first one released being Depeche Mode.

2) You do know what you are getting: $18.99 gets you the album (13 tracks) plus additional remixes and bonus songs not on the original album. So you are paying approximately $5 more for additional songs, music videos, etc. Granted you won't exactly know what songs but Depeche Mode have already announced a box set where they have more songs then what's on the album, so you could possibly get the additional songs without having to purchase the box set which will be quite a bit more $$$. For $5 it's worth the price for fans IMO.

3) You keep the music, videos, etc. It's not like you are renting the files, you basically get to keep anything released by this band until the expiration date, which could be worth alot more than the $18 they are charging if you were to buy it separate.

Kar98

Feb 24, 2009, 12:50 PM

So I'll wait for the physical box set. I really do like Depeche Mode, so I want decent sound quality that still sounds great when played LOUD!

Oh, I'm sorry, was I supposed to jump up and down in glee at another silly harebrained idea from Apple?

gnasher729

Feb 24, 2009, 12:54 PM

I guess if you know ahead of time enough of what you're getting to be worth the price, then it's OK... but I don't see the need for this.

There is no "need" for this. There is very little "need" for anything. What you don't realize is that EMI (probably with a little support from Apple) is the first record company that "gets it".

For years and years and years all the music companies have been concentrating hard on how to make it as inconvenient as possible for customers to buy their products. That's why we had/have DRM, that's why there are so-called CDs that I can't play on my MacBook, only on my old G4, that's why they are suing thousands in the USA. They concentrated on "intellectual property" instead of concentrating on what they should do: Making money!

Here we see for the first time that EMI takes the music of one band, and instead of thinking: How do we make it as hard as possible for people to listen to this music in case someone dares making copies? they think: How can we give our customers as much product as possible and draw as much money as possible out of their pockets. That's what a good business does: Produce the best possible product and extract as much money as possible from its customers.

Of course this is not for everyone. This is music from _one_ band. If you like them a lot, buy the package. If you like them a little, buy the record. If you don't like them, don't buy their music. Ninetynine percent of the music on iTMS I would never buy. And of the remaining one percent, most of that I would never buy because it would cost me more than £50,000 and I don't have that money to spend on music. So what?

iPegboy

Feb 24, 2009, 12:56 PM

williej81

Feb 24, 2009, 01:02 PM

This portion stuck out to me:

"... the price of the pass will not exceed the value of the contents offered."

If I'm reading that right, then you will be getting $18.99 worth of content, for the low-low price of $18.99.

I don't understand how this would be an attractive deal. You pay $18.99 for an album and extras, and you don't know what those extras are yet.. why not wait, buy the album and get the extras if you are interested later. it's the same price.

No, you are reading it wrong, it's reverse. You will pay $18.99 and the price won't be raised depending on what's released. So if you end up getting 10 more songs in addition to the album which could be purchased for $20+ separately, you still get it with the pass for $18.99.

zombitronic

Feb 24, 2009, 01:02 PM

This portion stuck out to me:

"... the price of the pass will not exceed the value of the contents offered."

If I'm reading that right...

You've got it backwards.

happydude

Feb 24, 2009, 01:03 PM

I don't think you get the entire back catalog. The quote reads:

I understood that as you get anything released from now until June 16th. That's likely to be one album, some singles and a video or two.

i read it as anything the artist has created. but i see how you take that reading from it. the language is confusing. is it anything ever, or anything the artist releases during a specified time period. anything ever would obviously be the better deal (man, just think if SJ and The Beatles struck such a deal . . . nope, never gonna happen) and $19 for an album (typically $10) and a couple videos and singles for another $9 . . . this doesn't seem like a good deal for something you've never even heard.

it would make more sense to me if it was the artist saying, hey, i have new album, get that and pay a little extra to download anything i've ever produced.

DavidLeblond

Feb 24, 2009, 01:04 PM

I don't understand how this would be an attractive deal. You pay $18.99 for an album and extras, and you don't know what those extras are yet.. why not wait, buy the album and get the extras if you are interested later. it's the same price.

Because they get your money earlier and it can accrue interest in their bank accounts for you to sit and wait for the album to come out while you listen to your "bonus" crappy remix content.

How is that not an attractive deal?

anubis

Feb 24, 2009, 01:04 PM

The confusion in this thread stems from arn's poor choice of words in the title of the article. He calls the iTunes pass a "short-term subscription". When people see the word "subscription", they immediately think of some kind of Napster or Zune Pass type of service where you get "all-you-can-eat" for a recurring fee.

The "iTunes Pass" is no different than any of the other countless times when Apple has offered albums for "pre-purchase", where you pay for the album before its released and the album auto-downloads on the release date. Except that the "iTunes Pass" is a stupider version of pre-purchase because they're basically saying they havn't even decided what they're going to release between now and June. Just "Give us 19 bucks now while we decide what we're going to release later on."

But yeah... using the word "subscription" in the title of the macrumors article is very misleading. In fact, the word "subscription" doesn't appear once in the linked article.

dizzy13

Feb 24, 2009, 01:07 PM

Do people like to complain just to complain? I don't understand why people complain about things that don't affect them. I mean you DO NOT have to buy this pass.

I would only complain if I bought something and didn't get what I paid for, but complaining about what is being offered is just silly.

williej81

Feb 24, 2009, 01:07 PM

i read it as anything the artist has created. but i see how you take that reading from it. the language is confusing. is it anything ever, or anything the artist releases during a specified time period. anything ever would obviously be the better deal (man, just think if SJ and The Beatles struck such a deal . . . nope, never gonna happen) and $19 for an album (typically $10) and a couple videos and singles for another $9 . . . this doesn't seem like a good deal for something you've never even heard.

it would make more sense to me if it was the artist saying, hey, i have new album, get that and pay a little extra to download anything i've ever produced.

That would mean you basically get old music for a smaller charge, which is not how the music industry works nor I think will ever work.

This deal is telling you that for this amount of money you get everything this artist releases in this time period. You are basically paying for the album plus any singles, remixes, etc they release in this time period. Certain artists this would not be worth getting if it was just an album release. However with Depeche Mode they are known to have extras so this would be worth it for the fans.

iPegboy

Feb 24, 2009, 01:12 PM

No, you are reading it wrong, it's reverse. You will pay $18.99 and the price won't be raised depending on what's released. So if you end up getting 10 more songs in addition to the album which could be purchased for $20+ separately, you still get it with the pass for $18.99.

Ahh, well. That makes more sense. If that's the case, it will be interesting to see how this proceeds. I'd certainly consider buying a similar package for my favorite artists when a new album comes out.

the vj

Feb 24, 2009, 01:18 PM

This is some sort of chnace targeted to fans.

This is the thing:

If a band is going to release a new album, you can get ALL the media related to that album for 15 weeks instead of looking for each thing in different places or not even know a "thing" was out there.

This is actually good for the labels because they release a lot of promotional material that never gets anyware and many fans never get it.

For example: I am in Venezuela, I may get the Depeche Mode CD, but I won't get the videos or the interview untild they are posted on youtube. Nor the remixes of the themes.

If I was in Germany probably I could get a load of stuff BUT not the promotions created for the US.

Usually a label create a campaing but they get lost.

This iTunes offer will be giving you every new release of your favorite band as long the promotion goes, specially singles and remixes.

I believe is a good help for the fans, a good way to fallow up.

happydude

Feb 24, 2009, 01:23 PM

That would mean you basically get old music for a smaller charge, which is not how the music industry works nor I think will ever work.

This deal is telling you that for this amount of money you get everything this artist releases in this time period. You are basically paying for the album plus any singles, remixes, etc they release in this time period. Certain artists this would not be worth getting if it was just an album release. However with Depeche Mode they are known to have extras so this would be worth it for the fans.

From what ARN wrote, it could be taken either way (downloads of all releases from an artist within a specific time frame could be read: any and all music an artist has ever released will be available during a certain time frame; or it could be read: only music the artist releases during a certain timeframe):
"EMI Music announced today that they have launched the first 'iTunes Pass', providing automatic downloads of all releases from a given artist within a specific time period. The first artist available under this program is Depeche Mode, with the current iTunes Pass [iTunes] available at a cost of $18.99 and good through June 16th, 2009."

But the press release confirms what you were saying, that is is the 2nd choice:
"The first iTunes Pass debuts today in conjunction with Depeche Mode's forthcoming 12th studio album, Sounds of the Universe, to be released on April 21 in the US. Fans who sign up starting today get the alternative/dance pioneers' new single, Wrong, as well as the Black Light Odyssey Dub Remix of the new track Oh Well. They will also receive the new album on its street date plus great music and video exclusives before and after the album's release over the next fifteen weeks. The Depeche Mode iTunes Pass can be purchased starting today for $18.99."

I guess for die hard fans of DM (of which I am not) this could be attractive. This is an interesting model and will be a good case study for future artists/record companies to consider. We'll all see, I guess.

finalcut

Feb 24, 2009, 01:30 PM

looks expensive anyway for all the extra you can receive by buying the cd.

twoodcc

Feb 24, 2009, 01:45 PM

seems pretty good. i'll have to wait and see how this does

skellener

Feb 24, 2009, 01:49 PM

I'll pass on iTunes Pass.

skellener

Feb 24, 2009, 01:49 PM

looks expensive anyway for all the extra you can receive by buying the cd. And you get a built in back up (the CD itself).

Dagless

Feb 24, 2009, 01:56 PM

I like the concept of a "season pass for a band", but at the same time I don't think this service has it the right way around. No way would I give Apple my moneys now in the hope of content over the next 15 weeks. If it worked out cheaper then yea, but no.

reldream

Feb 24, 2009, 01:57 PM

I see that the American people still don't know how to read correctly. (Yes, I am an American too...)

The article clearly says that for a certain period of time, you will "Automatically" (which is a cool part about this) get all the content that a certain band, group, individual has released. This can include the full album, any singles (including remixes), any music videos, and of corse the booklet.

Everyone on here keeps saying that they aren't going to pay for iTunes now. LMAO!!! Re-Read that article for all of us before you post something. Please...

I think this has some great potential. Say you are a NIN fan. And you purchase a pass for their next album release. NIN does a LOT of stuff behind the music to promote there CDs. That means you'll get all the music, remixes, (and possible even studio samples), music videos, interview videos, "The Making Of..." videos. Plus the digital booklet for your viewing pleasure.

Now IDK about anyone else on here...but if you are a BIG fan of a certain group...this is a real steal for the consumer at only $19. (CD=$9.99, Remixes=.99-9.90 (depending on 1-10 of them), music videos=$1.99-$7.96 (depending on 1-4 of them). So littlest amount would be around $12.97, and maximum amount would be around $27.85.

ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS...it ail automatically download these for you. No more getting onto iTunes and searching for any new music from your favorite bands.

I really think this could blow up huge!

Jonny75

Feb 24, 2009, 01:58 PM

Dear, some people can't read. Some know nothing about music and nothing about marketing either.

This is a very simple scheme, but you have to know one thing first: dM is one of the biggest bands out there selling over 100 Million albums. They don't always have chart No 1, but slow burn and sell, sell and sell. That's why Apple chose dM to launch this, why dM were the 4th band to have the special Discography treatment and why Apple launched its tie up with Ticketmaster in 2005 with the band. Just because it didn't cross your radar, don't flame it. And actually, while we're at it, dM sold more albums in the 90s and 00s than 80s, more than Bowie and their football stadium tour of Europe sold out... last November with the tour not kicking off until May! That's a fanatical fan base. The US dates announced last week are going equally as fast.

So, is this a decent deal? Actually it isn't bad. The band are getting cash up front, two months before the album launch and publicity for it. Apple are putting up material from the range of releases of the new album, which would only be all available (with extras to spare) in physical format if you bought the Deluxe version of the up-coming album, expected to sell at $95 (similar to U2's Deluxe package.... I guess some of you might have heard of them?)

Personally, even as a big fan I'm going to wait for the physical version, but this will sell well for the band and is quite reasonably priced.

As for criticising people who go out and buy things on the first day without knowing exactly what they are getting.... I think some on here have experience of doing exactly that with iPhones that cost considerably more than $18.99!

boonlar

Feb 24, 2009, 01:59 PM

what, people still pay for digital media? suckers..

Abstract

Feb 24, 2009, 02:05 PM

If I buy the album for $9.99 or whatever it costs on the US version of iTMS, and then watch the rest of the videos on YouTube, isn't that basically the same shizz? They're giving you the album, a bunch of remixes that may not even be worth $0.99 per track (I find remixes rarely are), and then content that you'd normally be able to get off MySpace, except they have an arrangement where you now pay for it. :confused:

I know that big fans of the band get to see exclusive videos 1 or 2 months before they're released to the general, but I guess you'd have to be pretty desperate to see the new DM videos for it to be worth it. I'm not one of those, so even if I wanted the new DM album, I'd just pay regular price.

ChrisA

Feb 24, 2009, 02:10 PM

This line maybe?

........plus great music and video exclusives before and after the album's release over the next fifteen weeks.

Are we really to believe the the record company will product material to be sold
exclusively to iTunes Pass holders? If they do it will be something VERY in-expensive to produce like a studio out-take or the like.

At any rate you are buying on faith, paying in advance for something you don't know about. But then it's not a lot of money either and gabling is fun for some people. So what the heck the absolute worst case is you lose $20.

aafuss1

Feb 24, 2009, 02:10 PM

The information page for iTunes Pass appears on the Australian store, but the iTunes Pass isn't available on our store-quite strange.

dobomode

Feb 24, 2009, 02:11 PM

This is awesome!

This news warmed my heart as it unites two of the things I care about most in the world: Depeche Mode and Apple. Bought the package without a second thought. DM typically release at least 4 singles, 4 videos, 4-5 b-sides, and 60+ remixes with each album. It wasn't clear in the announcement if those are part of the package but even if a tenth of it made it, the ROI would be positive. And best of all, iTunes will email you when the new releases are up on the store ahead of general release date and automatically download everything.

I am a huge fan and this is perfectly tailored to the likes of me.

miggitymac

Feb 24, 2009, 02:14 PM

Wow...

I don't want to flame or anything...

But some people really need to learn how to read and think before they post.:confused:

Just goes to show that owners of MBPs aren't necessarily "pro"..even with something as basic at reading comprehension. GO BACK TO SCHOOL!!:p

Jonny75

Feb 24, 2009, 02:26 PM

Are we really to believe the the record company will product material to be sold
exclusively to iTunes Pass holders? If they do it will be something VERY in-expensive to produce like a studio out-take or the like.

At any rate you are buying on faith, paying in advance for something you don't know about. But then it's not a lot of money either and gabling is fun for some people. So what the heck the absolute worst case is you lose $20.

Actually iTunes and Depeche has done this twice before and they were exclusives.

Jonny75

Feb 24, 2009, 02:30 PM

lftrghtparadigm

Feb 24, 2009, 02:34 PM

Even my favorite band couldn't put out enough music frequently enough to make this worth while.

Eduardo1971

Feb 24, 2009, 02:54 PM

...for a forum on a supposed tech website, with supposedly tech-savvy readers, you donkeys have stuffed an awful lot of stupid into a very small space.

I can't even begin to start correcting all the ass-hattery on display here without getting a nosebleed and having to go lie down for a bit.

The winner!

Mods: PLEASE closed this thread (seriously Mave1969 your reply is bloody ace and sums up the vast majority of 'replies' on this thread).

Jonny75

Feb 24, 2009, 02:55 PM

Even my favorite band couldn't put out enough music frequently enough to make this worth while.

Look, it's $18, you get a full album, all the singles, all the B sides, all the remixes and a few videos, including documentaries and in-studio performances.

Bands have been releasing Special Edition CD/DVD combos for years at double the price. This is just the iTunes equivalent.

The word Pass seems to have flummoxed some and fried the brains of others.

Just think of it as a TV Season pass for a band. Now maybe you'd want to wait for the DVD, that's fine, but some don't and iTunes is trying to make money!

Most bands now release albums, singles, promo videos, EPKs and remixes. Unless your favourite band is Blue Nile, I couldn't see how you can make that statement. (Normallly I would have included Peter Gabriel, but he's been on a releasing splurge recently, and the last Kate Bush album was a double!)

a1exey1azar

Feb 24, 2009, 02:56 PM

CD 1 - Sounds Of The Universe
1. In Chains
2. Hole To Feed
3. Wrong
4. Fragile Tension
5. Little Soul
6. In Sympathy
7. Peace
8. Come Back
9. Spacewalker
10. Perfect
11. Miles Away / The Truth Is
12. Jezebel
13. Corrupt

CD 2
Bonus tracks
1. Light
2. The Sun And The Moon And The Stars
3. Ghost
4. Esque
5. Oh Well

Remixes
6. Corrupt - Efdemin Remix
7. In Chains - Minilogue's Earth Remix
8. Little Soul - Thomas Fehlmann Flowing Ambient Mix
9. Jezebel - SixToes Remix
10. Perfect - Electronic Periodic Dark Drone Mix
11. Wrong - Caspa Remix

CD 3
Demos
1. Little 15
2. Clean
3. Sweetest Perfection
4. Walking In My Shoes
5. I Feel You
6. Judas
7. Surrender
8. Only When I Lose Myself
9. Nothing's Impossible
10. Corrupt
11. Peace
12. Jezebel
13. Come Back
14. In Chains

DVD
Video
Making The Universe / Film (45.23)
Usual Thing, Try And Get The Question In The Answer (55.12)
Sounds Of The Universe [A Short Film] (10.05)
Wrong (promo video - 3.16)
Studio Sessions:
Corrupt (4.08)
Little Soul (3.52)
Stories Of Old (3.24)
Come Back (6.05)

Jonny75

Feb 24, 2009, 03:03 PM

WRONG!

That's the Deluxe version--- $95, not $20. Look it up.

I give up. Some of you guys really need to learn to read and think before posting. You undermine any credibility this site is to have.

It's maybe appropriate the first single is called Wrong. The single is on Youtube with a brilliant video.

CD 1 - Sounds Of The Universe
1. In Chains
2. Hole To Feed
3. WRONG
4. Fragile Tension
5. Little Soul
6. In Sympathy
7. Peace
8. Come Back
9. Spacewalker
10. Perfect
11. Miles Away / The Truth Is
12. Jezebel
13. Corrupt

CD 2
Bonus tracks
1. Light
2. The Sun And The Moon And The Stars
3. Ghost
4. Esque
5. Oh Well

Remixes
6. Corrupt - Efdemin Remix
7. In Chains - Minilogue's Earth Remix
8. Little Soul - Thomas Fehlmann Flowing Ambient Mix
9. Jezebel - SixToes Remix
10. Perfect - Electronic Periodic Dark Drone Mix
11. WRONG - Caspa Remix

CD 3
Demos
1. Little 15
2. Clean
3. Sweetest Perfection
4. Walking In My Shoes
5. I Feel You
6. Judas
7. Surrender
8. Only When I Lose Myself
9. Nothing's Impossible
10. Corrupt
11. Peace
12. Jezebel
13. Come Back
14. In Chains

DVD
Video
Making The Universe / Film (45.23)
Usual Thing, Try And Get The Question In The Answer (55.12)
Sounds Of The Universe [A Short Film] (10.05)
WRONG (promo video - 3.16)
Studio Sessions:
Corrupt (4.08)
Little Soul (3.52)
Stories Of Old (3.24)
Come Back (6.05)

trip1ex

Feb 24, 2009, 03:06 PM

OK you know what you're getting so not as bad as i thought.

a1exey1azar

Feb 24, 2009, 03:06 PM

Did you buy the pack and receive confirmation e-mail from Apple?

WRONG!

That's the Deluxe version--- $95, not $20. Look it up.

I give up. Some of you guys really need to learn to read and think before posting. You undermine any credibility this site is to have.

It's maybe appropriate the first single is called Wrong. The single is on Youtube with a brilliant video.

Jonny75

Feb 24, 2009, 03:08 PM

Did you buy the pack and receive confirmation e-mail from Apple?

Nope, but as a long term dM fan with some connections I knew about this Saturday and the various versions of release 10 days ago.

And Martin Gore has an iPhone... with the ringer set to Digital. ;o)

mackensteff

Feb 24, 2009, 03:12 PM

Even my favorite band couldn't put out enough music frequently enough to make this worth while.

Wow, this thread needs a moniker like thread 500. So when someone does or says something completely stupid with no relevance to the article or readers in general. This could also apply to those that show their lack of education by being in such a hurry to post that they write something before reading and thinking about the article.

Title: New iMac in Apple Store

Poster 1. I sure wish they would update the iMac
Poster 2. Stupid. They couldn't add enough bells or whistle that it would be worth the update.
Poster 3. Will it run Snow Leopard.

Poster 4. Wow, there are a lot of idiot passvants out today.
or it looks like 1, 2, 3 and pulling a thread 967895

trip1ex

Feb 24, 2009, 03:16 PM

Ok you don't know what you're getting here. Still might be kind of interesting for big fans of a band. But sounds like a money grab. Cd prices online should be lower than they are as it is.

I guess I'm too cheap nowadays and don't care about having whole albums any more. I'll buy per song unless the album is $1.99 (or once in awhile $5) on Amazon or if the album contains all good songs which is fairly rare. I think I have all those albums anyway.

eleven59

Feb 24, 2009, 03:16 PM

This is more like a season pass for television shows, not a different version of iTunes. Depeche mode has a new album, singles etc. coming out over the next few months. This just seems like a way to get everything for one price. I'll wait to see if they include any exclusives, or if it's just the stuff you can get at the record stores, since I'd rather have a physical copy, anyway. And yes, I'm a huge Depeche Mode fan.

yep, that's excatly what it sounds like. which is not a bad thing if that's your fav artist and you don't always have the time to find out when a new single, video, etc will be released. I can think of a band right now that i like that is supposed to have an album out this year, but I dont know when. I could easily buy this pass if it was available and not have to worry about having to check itunes every week to see if its out..

im all for trying new means of distribution and use of the tech vs dinosaur ways.

Fuchal

Feb 24, 2009, 03:26 PM

This is pretty worthless.

Data

Feb 24, 2009, 03:34 PM

I just hope that everything they bring out will also be available on cd or vinyl, i want a hard copy and the best quality i can get.
Downloads should be an extra option in my opinion.

Zoboomafoo

Feb 24, 2009, 03:50 PM

Option 1: Everyone here who's reading this as a subscription model iTunes are idiots

Option 2: Apple's branding of "iTunes Pass" is confusing and they need a new name.

Mr Skills

Feb 24, 2009, 03:51 PM

Slightly OT, but I just looked at the first single on youtube and it's a huge return to form. I hope the rest of the album is as good (but since "hope" is the operative word, I'm not going to speculate with $20)

Unspeaked

Feb 24, 2009, 03:55 PM

This is pretty worthless.

I told myself I wouldn't post in this thread (though I've enjoyed reading it) but can't help myself any longer...

For someone that was going to buy the album anyway - and though I'm personally not a fan of anything DM has released I know a lot of people are - for around $10, they can pay a little extra and get singles, B-sides, videos and whatever else ends up being included.

There may even be exclusives - and good ones. This is the world's largest music store, after-all. It wouldn't be the first time a band has released iTunes exclusive tracks or videos - not just throw away interview clips as ChrisA alluded to.

At the very least, it looks like they'll get their money's worth (as fans).

At best, it seems there's a potential they'll come out way ahead with way more content than $20 would buy on its own in the iTunes store or elsewhere.

I just don't see how so many people can flame this. If Depeche Mode isn't your thing, at least try and see how this is a worthwhile deal in theory for a band you like.

Really, the level of ignorance in this thread is giving me a headache.

bemayo

Feb 24, 2009, 03:56 PM

Depeche Mode is their flag ship on this service? Were Katrina and the Waves too busy?

If the cost of the combined music value is equal to or less than the cost of the "pass," what's the added value to consumers?! :confused:

Depeche Mode may not be your cup of tea, but your comparison is absurd. Depeche Mode are not a pop band and they are not a one-hit wonder. Synth-driven doesn't mean pop.

If you guys don't like DM then move along. There is absolutely no relevance to bashing the band that is the first to try this new feature.

joemama

Feb 24, 2009, 04:01 PM

I agree that Apple has made a big mistake. I still dont even fully understand what this service even is yet. They shouldn't make it so confusing.

I can almost guarantee you that this is part of the "deal" Jobs agreed to get DRM free songs on iTunes.

The more confusing Apple makes it, the less it will sell, the sooner the record companies will stop asking for it.

Jobs wins again.

bbq2k

Feb 24, 2009, 04:03 PM

How dim are you people?

I told myself I wouldn't post in this thread (though I've enjoyed reading it) but can't help myself any longer...

Really, the level of ignorance in this thread is giving me a headache.

Okay, what you're bemoaning above isn't ignorance, it's disagreement with your point a view. Ignorance is not knowing about something; we all in this thread have the same information. You and a minority of others in this thread think this program seems worth it; the majority don't agree.

I'm not a fan of DM, but I love Tom Waits... and yet there's no way I would pay $20 to "subscribe" to him for a short time, sight unseen, sound unheard. If you think this makes me ignorant, then I say you're confused.

Unspeaked

Feb 24, 2009, 04:09 PM

Okay, what you're bemoaning above isn't ignorance, it's disagreement with your point a view. Ignorance is not knowing about something; we all in this thread have the same information. You and a minority of others in this thread think this program seems worth it; the majority don't agree.

I'm not a fan of DM, but I love Tom Waits... and yet there's no way I would pay $20 to "subscribe" to him for a short time, sight unseen, sound unheard. If you think this makes me ignorant, then I say you're confused.

I stand by my proclamation of ignorance.

If you look at what I said, it was that anyone who's a big fan of a band and is already going to buy their album (and most people in this category would do so without ever hearing a single sample or note from it) then there's very little risk to this deal.

Also, people latching onto the word "subscription" is further proof of ignorance.

I don't know if this is Apple's word or MacRumor's, but clearly what you're buying here is the digital equivalent of a deluxe album (which have been around for ages and usually comes with B-Sides, remixes, enhanced video tracks, etc). Do people really think that they'll buy this pass which expires on a certain day and then suddenly within the next day or two Depeche Mode will releases dozens of tracks that they're too late to download? That's ridiculous. This is most definitely well-timed to encompass the release cycle of the new album, from start to finish. End of story.

bbq2k

Feb 24, 2009, 04:12 PM

Depeche Mode may not be your cup of tea, but your comparison is absurd. Depeche Mode are not a pop band and they are not a one-hit wonder. Synth-driven doesn't mean pop.

If you guys don't like DM then move along. There is absolutely no relevance to bashing the band that is the first to try this new feature.

First, a quibble: DM is pop, period. I listened to a lot of their music in the 80s, when they were relevant. I recommend adjusting the scale on your musical spectrum. If you think that DM is miles away from, say, Bauhaus, another 80s pop band that I loved, then your musical universe could fit into a bottle cap and should be expanded and diversified.

Second, my main point: it does matter who Apple is getting to launch a new product, just as it matters who Motorola gets to hold up their phones in commercials, or who Coke gets to slurp their sugar water on billboards. Spokespeople create brand identity; identity speaks. Apple's choice of DM to be the premier face of this product speaks loudly, and says "we're out of touch."

Doctor Q

Feb 24, 2009, 04:16 PM

Perhaps the labels are dipping their toe into the iTunes Store subscription idea. We know how skittish they've been about selling online, and this could be another experiment. These initial subscriptions offerings are limited to one artist and to a short time period, but either of these limitations could be relaxed down the road. Maybe it will evolve into multiple artists for a given label, or longer periods of time.

If an album doesn't come out as scheduled, due to unforeseen circumstances, will they give you your money back?

Personally, I can imagine making a "pass purchase" for only a couple of artists, for whom I prefer online purchases to CDs and for whom I have routinely purchased all music. But... I'm interested only in real music releases. Given the extras they include, such as "video exclusives", I might end up paying more than I would have for just the music, even though they consider it a savings. I guess I have my own fear of the unknown!

MattInOz

Feb 24, 2009, 04:17 PM

Very smart. The new music model will be to cater to your "#1 fans" by providing them premium content at a premium price.

I expect lots to follow suite.

Best still your real fans are paying up front, they pretty much underwrite the album release. Schemes like this could really take alot of the risk out of music or at least spread it out. Would be great to see a few independent bands try it out.

bemayo

Feb 24, 2009, 04:20 PM

First, a quibble: DM is pop, period. I listened to a lot of their music in the 80s, when they were relevant. I recommend adjusting the scale on your musical spectrum. If you think that DM is miles away from, say, Bauhaus, another 80s pop band that I loved, then your musical universe could fit into a bottle cap and should be expanded and diversified.

Second, my main point: it does matter who Apple is getting to launch a new product, just as it matter who Motorola gets to hold up their phones in commercials, or who Coke gets to slurp their sugar water on billboards. Spokespeople create brand identity; identity speaks. Apple's choice of DM
to be the premier face of this ill-advised product speaks volumes about being out of touch.

Wow, a personal attack! Congratulations on taking the low road. I am not going to debate a faceless person over who knows more about music, but I can assure you my "musical universe" is bigger than a bottle cap. I'd say your definition of pop is different than mine. IMHO, "pop" means popular music that is ear candy: it might taste good, but it's just empty calories. That doesn't match DM. Regardless, my point was that lumping Depeche Mode in with Katrina and the Waves is absurd. And it is (but you already knew that). If you want to make more personal aspersions, rock on. I'm abandoning this idiotic thread.

Unspeaked

Feb 24, 2009, 04:24 PM

If an album doesn't come out as scheduled, due to unforeseen circumstances, will they give you your money back?

I thought of this, as well.

As I alluded to in my post a little further up, I think it would be very unlikely for any unforeseen circumstances to pop up, since I believe this is very carefully timed by EMI and Apple, but if that were the case my guess would be an extension of the "pass."

rockosmodurnlif

Feb 24, 2009, 04:25 PM

It'll be interesting to see what the reaction will be when they do this with the Beatles.

ray648

Feb 24, 2009, 04:51 PM

gmcalpin

Feb 24, 2009, 04:57 PM

It'll be interesting to see what the reaction will be when they do this with the Beatles.

um...

Considering the Beatles aren't coming out with any new material anytime soon, I reeeaaally doubt that will ever happen.

I gotta stand by Unspeaked here. Anybody who doesn't understand what this this service is is freaking illiterate. It's VERY easy to understand what you get (and why it is a good deal — if you are a Depeche Mode fan) if you READ THE ARTICLE.

For ****'s sake.

However:

Personally, I can imagine making a "pass purchase" for only a couple of artists, for whom I prefer online purchases to CDs and for whom I have routinely purchased all music. But... I'm interested only in real music releases. Given the extras they include, such as "video exclusives", I might end up paying more than I would have for just the music, even though they consider it a savings. I guess I have my own fear of the unknown!

A legitimate concern! Yeah, not knowing what you're getting is the tricky part here. I would like any new MUSIC from a bunch of bands, but videos? Not so much. (I'm not that interested in remixes, either.)

Other than that, the only way this differs from pre-ordering a super-mega-album is that the stuff doesn't all come out at the same time — kind of like a season pass that way. Hence the name.

(Really, people. It's not that complicated.)

Jonny75

Feb 24, 2009, 05:00 PM

iSee

Feb 24, 2009, 05:54 PM

It's the tv show's "season pass" but for music...

Which makes little no sense... :rolleyes:

This will go over like a lead balloon with 99% of consumers because it is so unclear what you are getting when you pay.

(Well, I was an episode of Mythbusters where they were actually able to get a balloon made from lead to fly, but still).

I hope this wasn't Apple's idea because it is a stupid one. This will probably amount to about .00001% of iTunes music sales. It's on par for a record company though--they fundementally do not understand their own customers.

Andrmgic

Feb 24, 2009, 06:32 PM

I don't see the value in this, but then again I'm not a big enough fan to buy any bands album without hearing and liking 3-4 tracks out of however many there are.

You're essentially paying extra for content that isn't guaranteed to come. They take your extra money and wait until week 16 to put out additional content and you won't get it as part of the pass.

I agree with what others have said.. I won't buy without listening to the music first. I have the same policy with any band, even my favorite ones because they very often release songs I don't like.

Ryan Considine

Feb 24, 2009, 06:37 PM

thats the one thing I loved about it: The Zune Pass

"Hey, you want a zune?"

"I'll pass."

Doctor Q

Feb 24, 2009, 06:44 PM

It's the tv show's "season pass" but for music...

Which makes little no sense... :rolleyes:

This will go over like a lead balloon with 99% of consumers because it is so unclear what you are getting when you pay.If 1% of customers buy this, they might still consider it a success. One might think that there's no disadvantage to offering a new feature that only some customers will take advantage of, but I see a major disadvantage:

Every new option complicates life for consumers. Like many of you, I'm technically oriented and I've used the iTunes Store since it was created, so new features and incremental changes are no big deal and perhaps welcome.

But what used to be a simple store for buying songs and albums now involves music, videos, TV shows, podcasts, games, DRM or no DRM, ringtones, variable pricing, complete my album, upgrade my library, show me recommendations, sell me passes, and other features that make it more and more complicated. Increasingly, tech newbies and casual users are going to find it formidable to figure out, and that's bad for business.

cromwell64

Feb 24, 2009, 06:58 PM

Wow, a personal attack! Congratulations on taking the low road. I am not going to debate a faceless person over who knows more about music, but I can assure you my "musical universe" is bigger than a bottle cap. I'd say your definition of pop is different than mine. IMHO, "pop" means popular music that is ear candy: it might taste good, but it's just empty calories. That doesn't match DM. Regardless, my point was that lumping Depeche Mode in with Katrina and the Waves is absurd. And it is (but you already knew that). If you want to make more personal aspersions, rock on. I'm abandoning this idiotic thread.

Depeche Mode is a pop band.

Doctor Q

Feb 24, 2009, 07:03 PM

TAnd best of all, iTunes will email you when the new releases are up on the store ahead of general release date and automatically download everything.

ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS...it ail automatically download these for you. No more getting onto iTunes and searching for any new music from your favorite bands.
The description says you use the "Check for Available Downloads" menu choice to get the new content with an iTunes Pass, so it's apparently not as simple as opening iTunes and having downloads begin automatically. It's only a couple of extra clicks, but without truly automatic downloading it's important that you get the emails about new content, to make sure you don't miss something you are entitled to.

dobomode

Feb 24, 2009, 07:22 PM

This is getting absurd.

First of all dismissing a band - whoever it is - that sells 100 million albums and played to over 3 million people on their last world tour is idiotic.

Secondly, someone posted a couple of options. A third might be particular to this website: time and time again, we have nerdy, Apple-fan-boys who reply first and think later on all threads. There may be a reason why so many here have misinterpreted this simple delivery method, and every music forum and piece of press I have read today with the same information hasn't.

Thirdly, Depeche are a band that have been going for nearly 30 years. Aside from any musical opinion you have, they have a famous, music industry known set of loyal fans who will buy it regardless -- in the same way many here downloaded Safari 4 beta before waiting for a full release, or bought the iPhone on day of release. Depeche as a 30 year old band have built up a certain degree of credit in bank for their fans that they'll be happy to stump up first.

For parallels look at Amazon (US) today. The No 1 selling album: U2's unreleased No Line on the Horizon! Only the journalists have heard anything other than the single. So are Amazon idiots for letting U2 fans make them so much money?? Absurd.

Finally - and it will be my finally - this is a new delivery method for Depeche Mode fans and them only. Don't like the band, deal with it. Apple and iTunes is a business, and they are tying up deals with Depeche as their last two exclusives over the last four years proved highly profitable.

This is the start. And it's playing off, Depeche is now No 1 in a few of the European iTunes stores, and you can argue as much as you like about musical taste, but you can't argue against money making in these tough times.

Amen, brother!

Beyond the point of whether this marketing tactic is good or not, I wanted to jump in on the musical relevance of DM.

First, a quibble: DM is pop, period. I listened to a lot of their music in the 80s, when they were relevant. I recommend adjusting the scale on your musical spectrum. If you think that DM is miles away from, say, Bauhaus, another 80s pop band that I loved, then your musical universe could fit into a bottle cap and should be expanded and diversified.

I am going to get in trouble for saying this, but unfortunately most folks in the US have extremely narrow & stereotyped vision of DM. The band is usually described as has-been / 80's / new-wave / pop or something of that nature.

Go to any European & South American country and the picture will be dramatically different. DM are nothing short of the modern Beatles in Germany. Their European Summer stadium tour has been sold out for months now. Their last album was No. 1 in 17, I repeat 17, European countries. In the US, their tours have become relatively smaller these days but still sell out (3 sold out nights in LA last tour in Staples center, 2 at the Madison Square Garden in New York, etc.). Now, you tell me the band is irrelevant! But don't believe me, hear it from the rest of the artists, from Coldplay through Rammstein to Johny Cash, out there (the fact that Johny Cash covered DM should be enough for some of the ignorants around here to shut the xxxx up):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depeche_Mode#Legacy_and_influence

The way I see it, it's a bit like soccer and football. The US doesn't get soccer and the world doesn't get football. The US doesn't get DM, and the world doesn't get hip-hop. :D

Here is a link to the new single:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=52704787

rockosmodurnlif

Feb 24, 2009, 07:26 PM

um...

Considering the Beatles aren't coming out with any new material anytime soon, I reeeaaally doubt that will ever happen.

Why does it only have to be for new releases?

techfreak85

Feb 24, 2009, 07:31 PM

What? Uhh... Who is giving Apple the drugs?!:confused:
Steve is sharing hes meds.
:eek:

(that was bad)

Doctor Q

Feb 24, 2009, 07:34 PM

Why does it only have to be for new releases?
You wouldn't buy this kind of pass for previously released material since it would already be in the store. You could buy it as a package if they had a deal going, but you wouldn't need a "pass".

Of course, deceased musicians somehow keep putting out albums so their music could in theory be sold with a pass. Jimi Hendrix died in 1970 but he came out with "Axis: Bold As Love (Holiday Edition)" just last November! But it's unlikely that people would want to sign up for a series of new releases of repackaged old material.

Bubba Satori

Feb 24, 2009, 08:17 PM

http://www.catwack.com/pics/125.jpg

Freis968

Feb 24, 2009, 08:22 PM

I am a fan of Depeche Mode, but did not realize they had a new album coming out until I saw this...some fan I am...LOL!

Anyway, I bought the Pass so I will see how it pans out. I had to agree to the iTunes crap again when I clicked on Buy Now.

mirffy

Feb 24, 2009, 08:52 PM

Maybe the "answer" (or rather lack thereof) popped up somwhere along the way and I just missed it while skimming the pages; all things considered, assuming this "season pass" is transferred to some other artist, this would obviously require said artist to release some album, singles, and more (videos etc) within the given timeframe.
I'm most likely not as up to date as others with the artists I'm interested in, but aside from a "blockbuster album" any given famous band/artist is going to release, it's not like they go all Jason Mraz and release 2 songs every week for an odd month or more. Am I missing something?

sanity

Feb 24, 2009, 08:56 PM

I don't get it. If they told you up front what you are getting, then I can see it. For example, if they said that "you get the album and a special inside interview that is released every week between now and June 16" then I can see doing this. Especially if all the interviews added up to waaaay over the pass price.

furi0usbee

Feb 24, 2009, 09:17 PM

Pass? For new releases? How many LPs and singles do you think are going to be released in any 15 week period by current artists? 2 singles, 1 LP, and a video? Why would I just wait for the release to come out as normal, doesn't sound like I'm getting a deal.

And, it has to be a 15 week period that Apple has inside info on. Would you be happy spending $19 on a 15 week period when nothing comes out? Talk about a gimmick! Why not offer a pre-release sale price, that would solve everything.

This is something that has zero benefit really. And... Apple has to know in advance what is coming out, otherwise they would potentially lose money by not charging enough, and then having a ******** of content released.

So here is what I know. Apple knows exactly what you get, you don't. You know there aren't going to be 2 full length albums coming out in 15 weeks. Why would I waste money up front for content I'm guessing will come out?

Apple, get your head out of your arse! This is what happens when Steve Jobs is out sick. Let's all donate to medicine so he can live forever....

Bryan

matthewsinclair

Feb 24, 2009, 09:27 PM

iTunes Pass doesn't seem like a "subscription" to me, at least not in the way that other digital media subscription services (eg Ruckus) have worked.

As far as I can tell, the difference here is that you do indeed own the items bought with iTunes Pass after the "subscription" expires. This is in contrast to other subscription services where you get a license to use the material while the subscription is valid, but after which point it all goes dark.

This more like a traditional magazine subscription where you get a new copy of the mag each month while your subscription is paid up, but you don't have to send the mags back when your subscription runs out.

M@

manhattanboy

Feb 24, 2009, 09:32 PM

this is by far the lamest thing Apple has done recently.
Shame on them... charging out the wazoo for nothing when our economy is tanking.
Jobs will be back on the job in no time if Tiny Tim keeps this up.

MattInOz

Feb 24, 2009, 09:50 PM

This is actually genius when you think about it. You pay money up front for the subscription then when the singles from that album are released over the next few months you can download them for free. I don't know about in america but in the UK downloads count towards the charts. This means anyone who got the subscription is already contributing to the chart success of the singles whether they like it or not. Singles in the charts leads to more radio airplay which leads to more people buying so in the end the artist/record label/apple make more money.

For a band, even like a small college band, with a dedicated following this model has so many pluses. It's very much an old style art patronage model.

I know a lot of people just aren't going to get it.
It does require the bands to be generous towards their benefactors or as noted people just won't bother and just buy tracks as they appear.

But bands like DM where you know that post album there is going to lots of remixes, appearances and live cuts that could all be spun out over the period that might not have been worth releasing otherwise, that could all be added.

Look at Radioheads In Rainbows and the masses of additional material thats been released along side the album.

Lessor known bands could pre-sell albums this way to a dedicated base to push themselves up in to higher attention levels.

Also opens up an alternative income for A&R managers they could sell season passes on new talent they find.

Mr. Giver '94

Feb 24, 2009, 10:10 PM

TBH this just sounds confusing and annoying...

iTunes is already bothering me enough with my iTunes Plus upgrades growing daily, sometimes even right after I purchase something....:(

BeanieRobert200

Feb 24, 2009, 10:34 PM

Wake me when they come out with a subscription plan.

gmcalpin

Feb 24, 2009, 11:02 PM

Why does it only have to be for new releases?

Because if they added the Beatles' catalog to the iTunes store, they would just add it all at once.

I honestly understand how this isn't this completely self-explanatory. This is just pre-paying for all NEW material that a band releases, as it is released (with some theoretical savings, assuming you would have actually wanted it all anyway).

It's just like how you can't buy a Season Pass for a season of a TV show after it's over... because you just buy the whole season at one time.

Can this really be called a subscription?

No, and Apple doesn't call it one. Blame the MacRumors headline for that wording.

http://www.macrumors.com/c.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2FWebObjects%2FMZStore.woa%2Fwa%2FiTunesPassLearnMorePage&t=1235538602 (link to the iTunes store's explanation)

ViViDboarder

Feb 25, 2009, 12:20 AM

bobbleheadbob

Feb 25, 2009, 01:19 AM

If this is an example of what Apple does without Steve Jobs at the helm, we're in big trouble. :(

c-Row

Feb 25, 2009, 02:13 AM

The winner!

Mods: PLEASE closed this thread (seriously Mave1969 your reply is bloody ace and sums up the vast majority of 'replies' on this thread).

I can't seem to find the original post anymore, but seriously, time to update that old .sig :D

c-Row

Feb 25, 2009, 02:39 AM

Basically... it's pre-ordering an album on iTunes?

So then as soon as it comes out you can just DL it. So then you don't have to wait in the virtual line for all the people rushing for it! Or so they don't run out of downloadable copies for you! Maybe you'll get the collectors album art? Hahaha

Wow. I see no advantage. Maybe this article missed an important point. I understand you get bonus content with it. A new video or something, but you're not getting it for free because the subscription is more than the album cost.

Given the previous release "policy" of DM, you will most likely get the album (of course) and three or four singles with 5+ mixes each. Assuming that all this is covered by the iTunes Pass, you will get more than 20 $ worth of music for less than the 20 $ you paid for the Pass. Chances are that the digitial singles will contain more mixes than their physical counterparts - stuff you would have to flock out a lot of money for on eBay because it's only available on limited promotional CDRs issued by the label.

If you are a DM fan and care about remixes, the Pass is for you. If you don't care about the mixes and only want the album, you won't need it. But just because you don't need it doesn't mean that it's worthless.

Mr Skills

Feb 25, 2009, 03:25 AM

For all those arguing so bitterly about whether Depeche Mode are "pop" or not - well it's easy to get confused, as they've keep changing!

Clearly here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0NuvwTuHV0) they are the cheesiest of cheesy pop bands.

But here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEXAJpvRhUI) and here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wt4qy8h4GE) they have clearly morphed into something, ahem, a little different :cool:

xpla

Feb 25, 2009, 04:06 AM

That's ridicolous. Make a flatrate for the complete ituns store or nothing as such a ridicolous thing.

Geetar

Feb 25, 2009, 04:17 AM

Er...thank you for that clear and beautifully-expressed sentiment.

Next.

knightlie

Feb 25, 2009, 04:54 AM

Give me strength! :rolleyes:

You're wasting your time. :rolleyes: ;) I never realised how difficult reading is for some people...

k2k koos

Feb 25, 2009, 05:20 AM

Well the title says it all, not sure if there's a market for this, maybe they'll create one, but I see no use for this at all.. iTunes needs to expand their artist offerings, many more smaller offerings are out there that are not in the catalog, and start some promotional scheme for newly discovered artists, not just the ones with big labels and big budgets to support them. How about a dedicated day each month introducing brand new artists in a variety of genres, and get something truly new out there. :apple:

NightFox

Feb 25, 2009, 05:50 AM

Owww! Why are people still having such difficulty understanding this? Surely it's all evident from the original article - even if you can find ambiguity, surely a bit of common sense is all that's needed?

1. You pay Apple a set price

2. You get anything an artist releases between two specific dates. And you get it TO KEEP. Do you really think that they're going to release stuff on the last day of your subscription that you only get to "own" for 24 hours? Think in terms of a magazine subscription, you subscribe for a year, you get every edition of the magazine just for that year but you keep them for ever.

3. Apple guarantee that the value of what you get will not be less than the price you paid for your pass - so if you pay £10 and the album is released on iTunes at £7, you are guaranteed to get at least £3 worth of extra stuff. And the intention will be that you will get more. So you'll hopefully end up paying £10 and getting perhaps £15 worth of material. Of course you can argue about whether you would normally want this extra material, but that's why this is aimed at the "must have everything" fans.

It really can't understand the problem people are having understanding this - or is it just people are in too much of a hurry to see their earth-shattering "Houston, we have a problem" postings up for all to see that they don't think first?

There's an old Japanese proverb that goes something like this: "It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt"

kornyboy

Feb 25, 2009, 07:06 AM

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)

Hooray! They finally managed to take something as simple as buying music in iTunes and make it thoroughly confusing.

Tell me about it.

DoubleU

Feb 25, 2009, 07:10 AM

It's an offer, you can choose not to accept it.

c-Row

Feb 25, 2009, 07:55 AM

It's an offer, you can choose not to accept it.

Who knows...

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PYR/PP30555-the-godfather-offer~The-Godfather-Posters.jpg

:D

jesterkap2

Feb 25, 2009, 09:23 AM

Why are people so upset about this? It isn't confusing, and if you don't like depeche mode it doesn't even effect you. Apple isn't screwing you over. They tell you right up front exactly what they're offering. If you are a huge fan of the band (the only people who should really care about this) then you get all the stuff they release surrounding their new album. I don't think it's necessary to accuse Tim of running apple into the ground. The music industry is looking for ways to make money off a diminishing market. If they go with giving fans more of what they want, I applaud that. It's better than the alternative of suing consumers and screwing them over. If it works out and they release a foo fighters or weezer deal I might be interested. Also, just because it's there doesn't mean you have to buy it.

LizKat

Feb 25, 2009, 09:25 AM

That's ridicolous. Make a flatrate for the complete ituns store or nothing as such a ridicolous thing.

Hell i would pay $18.99 for the complete iTunes Store sight unseen any day of the week. Is that what I just bought? OMG OMG OMFG !!!!

ViViDboarder

Feb 25, 2009, 09:37 AM

Given the previous release "policy" of DM, you will most likely get the album (of course) and three or four singles with 5+ mixes each. Assuming that all this is covered by the iTunes Pass, you will get more than 20 $ worth of music for less than the 20 $ you paid for the Pass. Chances are that the digitial singles will contain more mixes than their physical counterparts - stuff you would have to flock out a lot of money for on eBay because it's only available on limited promotional CDRs issued by the label.

If you are a DM fan and care about remixes, the Pass is for you. If you don't care about the mixes and only want the album, you won't need it. But just because you don't need it doesn't mean that it's worthless.

Yea, I get that. Assuming there is more than a few bucks worth of tracks then it's a good deal. At the moment, it doesn't seem that way. I was assuming that there were only 5 tracks added on or something. Which seems like a rather small gain for pre ordering.

That being said, I'm a much bigger fan of getting music free. Bands like Brad Sucks, Bomb The Music Industry, Radiohead and NIN can survive just find releasing their music DRM free on their websites at no cost. Brad Sucks and NIN even release lossless versions for making your own remixes :D (I'm not sure about Radiohead on that one).

Doctor Q

Feb 25, 2009, 12:17 PM

Just a quick thought about the marketing target for these passes. These passes aren't going to be tempting to people with at most only a casual interest in an artist, so the music labels shouldn't expect sales from them. On the flipside, die-hard fans will buy everything from a given artist anyway, so the music labels would be better off letting them buy at regular prices ("guaranteed" to cost more than the pass). Therefore, their target audience is very narrow: people who will buy the pass and would have purchased less of the artist's future work without it.

Jonny75

Feb 25, 2009, 12:37 PM

I said I wouldn't, but here's an extra tidbit:

Apple approached Depeche, not U2 for this. It wasn't a request from the band or EMI.

Tells you a little about the last two iTunes business schemes with Depeche Mode compared to the U2 collaboration for those cynical types. It does fit in though, Depeche fans are generally more electronic in more than just their music tastes.

Trajectory

Feb 25, 2009, 02:11 PM

Eh. This is a weird marketing idea. Pay more now for unknown goodies in the near future? I'm sure the record companies came up with this cockamamy scheme.

I predict that it won't last long after a few fanboys get a few new remixes that they don't like and feel cheated.

I'd rather Apple add more artists or start including LYRICS with music instead. I don't think people are looking to spend more money right now.

elistan

Feb 25, 2009, 02:15 PM

No thanks, Apple and DM. I'll buy things individually as they come out. It's quite likely that items included in the Pass would be ones I wouldn't have purchased on my own. So while over the duration of the Pass I might end up owning items with "fair market value" greater than the purchase price, I might also end up with items that TO ME are valued much less than the Pass price. (For example, spending $9.99 on one-hundred songs is a great deal, but if I thought 99 of those songs sucked, I got a horrible deal.)

I could see a huge DM fan doing this (there are plenty of people that buy EVERYTHING a band puts out) but for somebody like me (there are a number of albums I've purchased only a single track of, for example) it's useless. Such fans would likely have purchased every available anyway, so this route actually saves them money.

I just see this as a small-volume, niche sort of thing.

YMMV.