Depeche Mode has recently offered a "seasons pass" to their latest album [rollingstone].
The pass (which costs $19) will automatically give subscribers exclusive content between now and April 15th (when the album is released) via iTunes. On April 15th subscribers will get the album.
I'd love to see how well this works. It's not quite what I had in mind...
Closer to my original thought are the recent band related iTunes apps that have been cropping up....
Bands bypass iTunes by streaming music through iPhone apps:
The app, called "The Presidents' Music - PUSA," sells for $2.99 on the App Store (iTunes link) offers users access to four full albums, including the band's early "lost" recordings. [...] The app also features a number of extras and exclusives that the band says are updated regularly, and fans can read the band's blog directly from the app on their iPhones or iPod touches.
If only I wasn't so in-love with the physical CD format I might get more excited by such events...