Depeche Mode debut iTunes Pass service
Buy now, receive album later
Depeche Mode's Sounds Of The Universe, the band's 12th studio album, has already distinguished itself from the other 11 by being the first to take advantage of the new iTunes Pass service.
The idea is that fans pay an upfront fee - in this case, $18.99 - and then get all of a band's new iTunes content for a set period of time.
Depeche Mode fans who sign up for the scheme will start by getting new single Wrong, and also the Black Light Odyssey Club remix of Oh Well.
A copy of Sounds Of The Universe will automatically download on 21 April, its release date, and other exclusive audio and video content is also promised. The Depeche Mode iTunes Pass lasts for 15 weeks.
Adapted model
Apple has been offering Series Passes for TV shows for some time now - whether their music equivalents will prove popular remains to be seen. Certainly, diehard fans will like their all-encompassing nature, but the fact that you don't know exactly what you're going to get when you hand over your cash could be a concern.
What's more, the service currently seems to be for United States residents only - no news yet on whether it'll be rolled out in other iTunes Stores.
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I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.