Groundbreaking upgrade to 2023’s ‘Danse Macabre: De Luxe’ KiTalbum marks a new era for physical-digital music formats
KiTbetter, the company reshaping physical music for the digital era, today announced a world first: the upgrade of a previously released physical album to Dolby Atmos® immersive audio. Duran Duran’s 2023 album Danse Macabre: De Luxe, originally issued in limited quantities as a KiTalbum in custom coffin-shaped packaging and described as “great ghoulish fun,” has now been upgraded to Dolby Atmos, giving fans a new way to experience the music with the album they already own. With limited quantities still available, Danse Macabre: De Luxe continues to blur the line between the physical and digital, uniting art, technology, and timeless sound.
The KiTalbum, KiTbetter’s hybrid physical-digital format, makes this possible. Unlike traditional physical formats, a KiTalbum can evolve, update, and unlock new experiences for fans. One year after Danse Macabre: De Luxe’s KiTalbum debut, KiTbetter has upgraded every existing copy to Dolby Atmos, demonstrating how physical-digital albums can continue to grow long after release. Similarly, bands could also release a new music video for a song on the album, share behind-the-scenes footage, and create more creative expansions to the album.
For a band like Duran Duran, known for pushing musical and technological boundaries, this upgrade underscores their continued commitment to innovation. Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran said, “Danse Macabre was born from a spontaneous decision to pull together a record which celebrated the madness and joy of Halloween. In doing so, we unlocked an unexpected box of curiosity and creativity, which led us to reimagine some of our older songs, record cover versions of some of our favorites, and write several new pieces.”
“This is what makes the KiTalbum so compelling to both artists and fans. It has the power to evolve, upgrade, and deepen the connection with an album people already own and love,” said Jennifer Sullivan, CMO and President, North America at KiTbetter. “By partnering with Dolby and Duran Duran, we’re proving that albums can be dynamic, living experiences that continue to grow in value over time.”
About KiTbetter
KiTbetter, a subsidiary of South Korean media technology company Muzlive, is reshaping music ownership through the KiTalbum, a patented physical and digital format that gives fans something to hold and artists a more direct, profitable way to share their work. Each KiTalbum is a keepsake box filled with collectible artwork and a pocket-sized KiT device that unlocks access to high-fidelity audio, video content, and exclusive fan experiences on any modern smartphone or tablet. (Compatible with iOS and Android.) Since releasing the world’s first connected album in 2012, KiTbetter has sold over 10 million KiTalbums worldwide and holds multiple patents on its proprietary U-NFC (Ultrasonic Near-Field Communication) technology. Trusted by major labels, independent artists, and fans alike, KiTbetter bridges the convenience of streaming with the permanence and collectibility of physical media. It delivers a more complete audiovisual album experience and returns music to something you can see, hear, and hold.
