Mode re-signs with Mute/EMI for the world

From Billboard.com: Updating a story first posted yesterday (Oct. 6). Depeche Mode has renewed its long-term deal with Mute/EMI and is planning to release its 12th studio album April 20, 2009. Past Depeche Mode albums were licensed by Mute to Warner Bros. in the United States but will be under EMI’s control moving forward.

At a press event yesterday (Oct. 6) in Berlin, the band also unveiled its 2009 Tour of the Universe, which will play 28 stadium dates worldwide beginning May 10 in Tel Aviv, Israel. As-yet-unannounced dates in North and South America will follow; Live Nation is promoting.

The last Depeche Mode tour, in support of 2006’s “Playing the Angel,” was supposed to conclude in Tel Aviv but the show was canceled due to concerns over safety.

“Playing the Angel” has sold 423,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The set was produced by Ben Hillier, who is also producing the as-yet-untitled new album. Frontman David Gahan said during the press conference that at least two songs he’d penned would appear on the set.