Apple experiments with iTunes Pass: it's not what you think, and it's lame
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted February 24th 2009 11:26AM
posted February 24th 2009 11:26AM
If it seems like Ma and Pops over at the iTunes store are toying with the idea of subscription music, look again. The iTunes Pass is more akin to buying a season of Celebrity Rehab: long-time Depeche Mode fans can put down $18.99 to get everything the band releases between now and the seemingly arbitrary date of June 16, 2009, including the new single, various promotional bits (remixes, videos, etc.) and the Sounds of the Universe album when it's eventually released. The audio comes in iTunes Plus (256kbps / AAC / no DRM) format, and while Apple doesn't say exactly what you'll be getting, the company promises that you won't wind up paying more for the pass than the value of everything you receive. Of course, what we'd really like to see is this sort of a deal for a band that didn't peak twenty years ago. In the meantime, we'll be catching up with Depeche Mode the way nature intended -- during the weekly spin of Personal Jesus at 80's Night.[Via Tech Digest]
Apple please introduce a subscrip service...ill glady pay your $20.00 for a similar service to what the zune has...i serioulsy am jelous at their subscrip service but love my ipod touch....help!
Seems like a reasonable idea. Should have launched with a number of artists though.
This has nothing to do with a subscription.
This reminds me of this clip:
(First couple of lines)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xillqqt0Y0
Personal Jesus was released in the early 90's.
I agree, I use the Zune Pass to it's fullest, and it has been the only thing keeping me from iTunes. If iTunes had a pass it'd put Zune down for the final count.
Why would you do that?(not trying to be funny)
Personal Jesus was released on its own single album in 1989. Violator was later released with Personal Jesus on it.
And, not to burst anyone's bubble or anything, but Depeche Mode is actually more popular now than they were back in the 80s if concert ticket sales have any bearing on numbers.
iTunes Pass? I'll erm....pass, thanks.
Personal Jesus was released in 1990. It wouldn't be very appropriate on 80's night.
There are several "80's" songs from 90 or 91. The first couple of years in the decade are almost always transitional.
Why don't you wait and write a review after the June 16 date they mention??? They may be releasing all kinds of material, from videos to remixes. I purchased the pass because I'm a huge Depeche Mode fan and I'm intrigued with the idea. The statement that they peaked 20 years ago is an ignorant and uninformed one. Every album they released since Personal Jesus has reached number 1 in multiple countries and even in the US they were in the top 10. Numerous current bands (Coldplay, The Killers, Linkin Park,etc) name Depeche Mode as a major influence, so do a little research before you put out your shitty blog.
They peaked 20 years ago. And I say this as a big fan of Depeche Mode (my comment about the real meaning of Catching Up With Depeche Mode was apparently eaten because I linked to the album on Amazon).
Why do you refer to Personal Jesus as an album? It was on Violator.
I didn't refer to Personal Jesus as an album at all...I simply stated that since the release of Personal Jesus, every album had great success. Maybe I should have have clarified and put the word "single" in front of "Personal Jesus"
Depeche Mode are drugged out junkies, and are releasing total hippie junk now. Just like every band that makes it big. They produced timeless pieces in the late 80's, early 90's. Now it's whiny-junk.
They're riding the wave of their dieing popularity. If any new band made the kind of "music" they're making now, they wouldn't get shit for contracts.
Indeed, I tend to agree with this. While I don't like the idea of paying for something when I don't know what I am getting (therefore, I'm not interested in this idea now), I am willing to withhold judgement until the end of the period and see whether customers who participated got a good deal or not.
I would rather use torrents.
That's because you are a bad person. It's a shame that they don't still hang pirates...
You'll dance to anything...
It may be an amalgamation, assortment, bag, batch, box, bunch, carton, combination, kit, load, lot, pack, pile, stack, or tin, but it is not a PASS.
Never Let Me Down Again is so much better of a song than Personal Jesus, hell Question of Time is.
DM "peaked twenty years ago"?
Idiot.
Who cares about iTunes?
I am willing to bet there are more people who care about DM than about Apple... worldwide!
Gee, Joseph, I don't think you made your distaste for Depeche Mode clear enough in this post. Think you could throw in a few more cheap shots so we're all certain that your focus on your own musical taste is more relevant than, you know, the Apple product in the article title?
Or am I remiss in hoping that an Engadget article might deliver more in the way of objective prose than some haughty op-ed piece? Probably.
Sounds like the Artist Formerly Known as Popular's old music club. Sometimes you got something worthwhile, most of the time you got... nothing at all.
Wow, here's a blog I'll never need to read again. Congratulations, Joseph L. Flatley, you are an asshole.
totally agree, the author Joseph L. Flatley wrote a crappy piece here. why make such a strong statement in the title (calling it lame) and then go on to describe the service (which sounds great for DM fans) and diss the band? this is POS tech reporting
You are so stupid to say those things about Depeche Mode - a band that has sold more than 70 millions of records worldwide and still owns the hearts of millions of people - 28 years after their formation. I would sugest you to go and listen to some of their fantastic albums and then come back and critisize them you idiot. You are just WRONG
Dear A$$hat,
Our Depeche mode is better than your derivative Emo/tredny Panic at the Disco.
Depeche Mode is still more populat than Engadget and their irrelevant bloggers. Ooops, sorry, 'journalists'.
Our DM? Are you from Basildon?
DM's most popular song is Enjoy The Silence, anyway.
Seriously, how can they promise me more than the "value" of the pass? If I would have bought one song, at ninety-nine cents, or even one album at $14, then it should be known I'm not buying the T-shirt or the six minute band interview or the one (bad) live take they did in Addis Ababa; any "value" Apple wants to assign to that crap is equal to zero from my perspective, so just because I'm getting a discount on "the whole package" does not mean I'm getting the best deal on "what I would actually want to buy."
Dumb.
To clarify: I guess it could be interesting if you're that douche fanboi who just has to have every little thing ever produced with the lead singer's name on it. If you're any less likely to be washing orifices, however, I stick to my claim that it's dumb.
looking at the type of customers apple attracts, this "renting" business won't work.
Is it just me, or have we been invaded by Depeche Mode groupies?
We've always been lurking in the woodwork.
If you have no idea what the package includes how can you claim its not worth it? You're opinion is completely illogical.
Considering that DM was instrumental (pun intended) in making SYNTH-pop a long-lasting musical legacy, acknowledged by many bands (from Prodigy to The Killers), and considering that they always used cutting-edge gadgets and technology, I'd think they deserve more respect than such idiotic drivel.
I experimented in the 80s. they'll get over it.
LOL Depeche Mode is one of the biggest money making and touring bands of the 2000s. Not to mention that Personal Jesus was a 90s song.
This was the worst article I have ever seen on engadget.
I have to admit I’m a dépêche mode fan, but even if I wasn’t I would still feel the same. Depeche mode is an amazing group, not just an old 80’s band or something.
Martin Gore is one of the best songwriters of our time, and he is so under rated.
This was such a disrespectful article, maybe panic at the disco, or what ever the kids are listening to these days is something he could better relate to.
I agree wholeheartedly. One of the worst written articles I've read on this blog. Why bash DM?
Screw iTunes. I get my music from emusic for 25 cents a song or about $3 per album...haha. It doesn't carry the big 4 labels and thank god.
Ah, is there anything more warming than the sight of an offended fan taking up cudgels on behalf of their slighted heroes? The thing is Joseph, they kind of have a point. From this vantage point Depeche Mode seem to exist above and beyond the mores of traditional media, still packing stadiums worldwide and selling in their millions. I don't care much for the iTunes idea, which seems to me to be too much of a gamble. What do we get for our hard-earned? Remixes galore or something genuinely juicy? More than that however, I don't care much for unnecessarily spiteful articles. There are a thousand bands I either know little of or don't like but I tend not to poke their fans with a big stick for no good reason.
Zen Touch came before iPod Touch
Zune Pass came before iTunes Pass
And the Zune pass made me quickly and happily switch to a Zune!
I now can listen to so much more music then ever before and I just love it! Nothing better now than downloading a bunch of different bands and just let the Zune do a random song pick while driving and see what you get!
Not bad for $15 and they even let you keep 10 songs a month DRM free!!!
The comment about Depeche Mode peaking "20 years ago" is half true - if you count strictly the United States, Depeche Mode albums have steadily been going down in sales since Violator
However, if you count the other 95% of the human race in the world - they are actually doing quite well.
Their last album "Playing the Angel" sold about 3.5 Million worldwide (in 3.5 years time) released in 2005
So while it's true, that they technially "peaked" in 1990 (or as the author states in the 80s) in the United States
Any record producer can tell you that they would cream in their pants if they can sell 3 and half milllion of anything -
Finally, they consistently sell out Concerts and are part of an elite few that can claim over 100 million record sales
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists#cite_note-58
fail
I fail to understand the up side of the offer...
It BLOWS !
Come ON apple ! make it real for once : like 100 title a months for $29,99 or something...