Apple launches iTunes Music Store for Japan
updated 10:05 pm EDT, Wed August 3, 2005
Apple\'s iTunes for Japan
Apple today launched the Japanese version of its , which it says delivers music fans the same "innovative features, breakthrough pricing, seamless integration with iPod and groundbreaking personal use rights that have made iTunes the number one online music service in the world." The company says the store carries one million songs priced at ¥150 and ¥200 per song. "iTunes and iPod are leading the digital music revolution," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We are thrilled to be bringing the iTunes Music Store to Japan, and hope music fans here love it as much as others around the world do."
Apple's iTunes Music Store is the number one online music store with over 500 million songs purchased and downloaded worldwide, and works seamlessly with iPod, the world's most popular digital music player with over 21 million sold, according to the company.
The iTunes Music Store in Japan debuts with local favorites including iTunes Originals from globe and Ulfuls, exclusives from Def Tech, Crazy Ken Band, Chara, Little Creatures, Chie Ayado and The Complete B'z digital box set. Other iTunes exclusives released today include music from international artists such as U2, Jack Johnson and Björk, and over 10,000 audiobooks are available, including works by Japanese authors.
The iTunes Music Store in Japan also features a wide variety of Japanese-language Podcasts, such as InterFM, Sotokoto and Radio Nikkei.
In celebration of the iTunes Music Store launch in Japan, Apple is hosting live music performances throughout August at all four retail locations in Japan, including the new Apple Store Shibuya which opens August 6th.
Apple today also announced the worldwide availability of early Abkco catalog titles from classic artists such as Sam Cooke and The Animals, as well as the Rolling Stones, making the iTunes Music Store the only online music service in the world to feature the complete digital music catalog of the Rolling Stones.
iTunes is offering users the opportunity to pre-order a special version of the new Rolling Stones album "A Bigger Bang" with an exclusive bonus video.
But why 32% to 77% more
08/03, 10:30pm reply
Great to have AMS in Japan even if 2 years late but why are we being forced to pay between 32% (150 yen) to 77% (200 yen) more in Japan than in the USA (99 cents)? Grasping Japanese music distributors I suppose! At this price model, Japanese kids will still rent CDs and rip the music illegally.
rocky2
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2001
¥ $
08/03, 10:46pm reply
¥150 = $1.35 ¥200 = $1.80
Conversions via qwikConvert Dashboard widget.
dreamBweaver
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2003
Exchange rates are decept
08/03, 10:47pm reply
ive.
You can't just compare exchange rates. You need to look at how much they are earning, and so many other factors. It might truly be the equivalent of 99 US cents. If it's not, you can be sure it was not Apple's choice to charge so much though.
Hey MacNN, how about more than 25 characters for the subject.
e2Sync
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2005
Cost
08/03, 11:13pm reply
Of course its the greedy record companies. Why else would they be charging a range of prices, something they don't do in the US, and I don't think anywhere else.
Why do you think it took so long to get it open. They wanted their $$$.
LouZer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2000
A ripoff but good
08/03, 11:24pm reply
nonetheless for Apple to be opening in the Japan market. They've got to stay ahead of Sony who is playing catchup with their MP3 players...
legacyb4
Mac Elite
Joined: May 2001
In Japanese too
08/03, 11:28pm reply
pretty neat!
legacyb4
Mac Elite
Joined: May 2001
but ....
08/04, 12:27am reply
.... what are other online music stores charging in Japan?
trevc
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2000
BTW this is cheaper....
08/04, 01:20am reply
Please not that this is cheaper then Sony's Mora online download service in Japan, which charges 210 yen per song.
One should compare prices to other download services in the same markert. Comparing to the US is like "Apples vs. Oranges..."
CVB
cvbcvb
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2003
Relatively low price
08/04, 01:26am reply
That's a far cheaper rate than the Japanese record companies had been demanding for two years, so I suspect that Apple is not making any profit but relying mostly on it to propel iPod sales, especially while Korean MP3 players outsell iPod in Japan, unlike the rest of the world.
Xiaopangzi
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2003
yuck...
08/04, 01:29am reply
Overpriced! Amazing what Japanese companies charge for 'services' and even more amazing that people put up with it. I'd hate to see what they would have charged if Apple hadn't got them to compromise.
Thankfully, I have a credit card with a US address - so I don't have to put up with this nonsense.
umijin
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2004