Going for a song: App gives album’s fans free access

Los Angeles – Electronic musician Skrillex pre-released his debut album on a free gaming app, nearly two weeks before its official iTunes release date.

The app, Alien Ride, was inspired by space shooter arcade games, and features a solitary space ship that flies through the cosmos, shooting any asteroids that get in its way. As players progress through the levels they unlock 11 hidden objects, which are the 11 songs that make up Skrillex's album, Recess.

‘We were thinking of doing a sort of Easter egg thing,’ Tim Smith, Skrillex’s manager, told Rolling Stone magazine. ‘But [Skrillex] is more direct than that. I didn’t want to confuse people or put them on a scavenger hunt. We’ll probably make less money doing it this way [but] it’s more about the fans.’

Artists and musicians are increasingly finding new interactive ways to connect with their fanbase. For more, read our Transmedia Music Videos microtrend. For more on the rising desire for immersive experiences in entertainment, read our Futuretainment macrotrend.