08/03/2005, 10:05pm, EDT
Wednesday, August 3rd
Apple launches iTunes Music Store for Japan
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.
Filed under: industry
Other story tags: digital music/video
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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.
Why do you think it took so long to get it open. They wanted their $$$.
One should compare prices to other download services in the same markert. Comparing to the US is like "Apples vs. Oranges..."
CVB
Thankfully, I have a credit card with a US address - so I don't have to put up with this nonsense.