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

[hanschien]

Is iTunes Pass something new to the iTunes Store? I found it on the new Depeche Mode album.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/M...35774&s=143441

[MacRumors]

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.

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], 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 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

[talkingfuture]

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

[alexbates]

purchase iTunes? Why isnt it free?

[happydude]

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]

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.

[OllyW]

Originally Posted by alexbates

purchase iTunes? Why isnt it free?

Originally Posted by alexbates

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]

Originally Posted by alexbates

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.

[eleven59]

Originally Posted by mode101

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.

[brygruver]

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.

[gmcalpin]

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

Originally Posted by krye

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.

[egdiroh]

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.

[Kar98]

Originally Posted by brygruver

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.

[Aaleck]

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

[Ryan Considine]

Originally Posted by Aaleck

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

"Hey, you want a zune?"

"I'll pass."

[Macjames]

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

[Mudbug]

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

[alexbates]

Originally Posted by Mudbug

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.

[joemama]

Originally Posted by alexbates

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.

[theheadguy]

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

[krye]

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

[OllyW]

Originally Posted by krye

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.

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]

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]

Originally Posted by ChrisA

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.

[mode101]

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.