iTunes Europe Update

[MacRumors]

Reuters reports on Apple's ongoing efforts to launch iTunes Europe this year.

Apple's European chief, Pascal Cagni, promised "When we launch in Europe, we want to do it well". According to Cagni, they are still aiming for a 2004 release but acknowledges a few month delay.

Previous rumors had indicated that licensing issues have been holding back the launch of the European service.

[Trowaman]

better late than never?

[JoeMacDaddy]

Even though it might be delayed, it is good news to have iTunes in Europe. This is a great market to enter and I want some of the music I can't get in the US.

Bravo Apple.

[telecomm]

What about Canada? You know, that place up north? We've had a (PC only) music download service operating since last fall, what's the hold up here?

If they are going to have a Europe-wide site as well as a US site, why couldn't they just expand the current US site to itunes North America?

There were rumors of discussions going on last year, but it's been pretty quiet lately.

[k2k koos]

Long over due, thanks to once again the politics of the record companies in europe. Get your act together SONY, Virgin, EMI,Dreyfus, Polydor etc etc etc!!!


Okay I had my moan, Apple , keep on releasing cool stuff, and services, and if you do it well, that means sync your stores in the US and Europe, so that all music is available everywhere, no 'import album' bull**** etc, Music is universal, and should univerally be available! Go get em!

[aftk2]

Originally Posted by JoeMacDaddy

This is a great market to enter and I want some of the music I can't get in the US.Bravo Apple.

No doubt. This is one reason I think more US customers should be clamoring for iTunes worldwide. Not only would it mean that our friends elsewhere could use the iTMS, it would mean, theoretically (and I hope it means this), that we can have instant, inexpensive access to heretofore unavailable (or prohibitively expensive) songs.

I'm a fan of several Australian pop bands. Well, after their albums didn't do very well in the United States, their follow-ups are only available here (through Amazon, for example) as highly priced import CDs. Well, I don't want to pay $36.99 but I'd gladly pay $9.99 or $12.99.

[BornAgainMac]

Soon I can move back to my country. The reason: iTunes.

[deepkid]

Originally Posted by telecomm

What about Canada? You know, that place up north? We've had a (PC only) music download service operating since last fall, what's the hold up here?

If they are going to have a Europe-wide site as well as a US site, why couldn't they just expand the current US site to itunes North America?

It's never that simple. Canada is a different country, with its own laws. Any online music store has to negotiate with the country/territory in question, the record label and also publishers and artists themselves, depending on how each record contract was structured.

Add a dash of uniformed skepticism since the online music business is still a cottage industry and you can easily see how much progress Apple's made in a very short time.

So the question is, should Apple turn inpatient and accept any haphazard offering from a country/record label/publsher/artist.. or should it stay the course, blaze a new and smart trail, then introduce their online store with the ease of use and joy associated with the U.S.-based iTMS?

I think the latter.

[Omad0n]

QUestion, with iTunes Europe launched, does this mean that we will get the European lables on our iTunes? I ask because a lot of what I listen to is from Europe, and it'd be great if I could get it through iTunes.

[Jack White]

Originally Posted by JoeMacDaddy

Even though it might be delayed, it is good news to have iTunes in Europe. This is a great market to enter and I want some of the music I can't get in the US.

Bravo Apple.

i would think you would be able to buy music in your own country's store only. so someone in the us would only be able to buy in the us, not the europe one.

[D*I*S_Frontman]

I, too, am wondering if the iTunes catalog will be one huge international one or divided by region.

My prog band is on iTunes domestically, but there is a whopping HUGE prog fan base in Europe we would love to reach. If our album and songs are available on the new iTunes Europe site, life would be grand...

[winmacguy]

Originally Posted by k2k koos

Long over due, thanks to once again the politics of the record companies in europe. Get your act together SONY, Virgin, EMI,Dreyfus, Polydor etc etc etc!!!


Okay I had my moan, Apple , keep on releasing cool stuff, and services, and if you do it well, that means sync your stores in the US and Europe, so that all music is available everywhere, no 'import album' bull**** etc, Music is universal, and should univerally be available! Go get em!

Once again, its not the record companies that are the problem it is the International EU laws that are prohibiting a European wide release of iTMS

[telecomm]

Originally Posted by deepkid

It's never that simple. Canada is a different country, with its own laws. Any online music store has to negotiate with the country/territory in question, the record label and also publishers and artists themselves, depending on how each record contract was structured.

I didn't mean to imply that I thought it would be simple, but since negotiations have apparently been underway since sometime last year, I would expect that it wouldn't take as long to make arrangements with one country as it would to arrange licensing with all of Europe.

It seems as though apple may be aiming for one (semi) global launch date of the various music stores, and I suspect that would leave Canadians waiting longer than necessary.

[nsb3000]

The Article claims that they want to wait "until they get it right". Perfectionism might be helpful when designing a product such as an computer or ipod, but with an online service you can tweak it all the time. I would think getting it out ASAP should be the number one goal.

[msconvert]

Originally Posted by JoeMacDaddy

..... I want some of the music I can't get in the US.

I bet, with the varied license agreements between all the EU countries and even the US, that there will be different catalogs between the US and European markets. So, you will be stuck with the same selection.

[nacl99]

Originally Posted by winmacguy

Once again, its not the record companies that are the problem it is the International EU laws that are prohibiting a European wide release of iTMS

Damn Straight
Europeans have no one to blame but their own overreaching governments and laws. A good example of this is Frances tax on MP3 players. Over controlling governments suck.

[coolfactor]

Originally Posted by Patmian212

Now im seriouse who cares i mean you can get it free on kazaa,hotline client, shareaza and limewire not to mentions thousands more

The only good thing about this is its made by apple

You can also get free pepsi by fishing out half-empty bottles from the garbage that some else has paid for. That's what it comes down to... people using p2p networks (yes, I'm guilty of it since I'm in Canada and can't yet buy tunes from iTMS), are only scavengers trying to get freebies of what others have paid for.

No wonder concerts are so expensive... because that's the only way for artists to make any real money these days... selling their songs doesn't do it because of the "music should be completely free" generation. Well, it's time for that generation to move on.

[coolfactor]

Originally Posted by nsb3000

The Article claims that they want to wait "until they get it right". Perfectionism might be helpful when designing a product such as an computer or ipod, but with an online service you can tweak it all the time. I would think getting it out ASAP should be the number one goal.

Take as long as you need Apple! We know that when you set your mind to do something, you aim to do it right, and that's what makes you so great. Don't listen to anyone try to get you to shortcut the process. There are already so many other companies out there that do that, and now we live in a Walmart warehouse world instead of people taking the time to build quality, well-crafted wares.

Thanks for your hard work. I'm ready to buy from you when you come to Canada.

[Patmian212]

Originally Posted by coolfactor

You can also get free pepsi by fishing out half-empty bottles from the garbage that some else has paid for. That's what it comes down to... people using p2p networks (yes, I'm guilty of it since I'm in Canada and can't yet buy tunes from iTMS), are only scavengers trying to get freebies of what others have paid for.

No wonder concerts are so expensive... because that's the only way for artists to make any real money these days... selling their songs doesn't do it because of the "music should be completely free" generation. Well, it's time for that generation to move on.

Well im living with my parents and in 15 and i get $20 a week . i cant afford cds with that and if i do buy one i wont go out for the rest of the week.

SCAVANGERS im ofended it is true that tunes should cost something but some people just cant afford it.

P2p is fine its sharing you put your stuff out there and you get peoples stuff its a big happy family.

Nothing wrong with p2p!!!!!

[reaper]

Originally Posted by nsb3000

The Article claims that they want to wait "until they get it right". Perfectionism might be helpful when designing a product such as an computer or ipod, but with an online service you can tweak it all the time. I would think getting it out ASAP should be the number one goal.

i would think that the waiting "until they get it right" has more to do with licensing agreements and technical aspects of drm in europe rather than the look and feel of the site.

i think apple has a good head for business in this arena (digital music and drm) and i wouldn't think they would want to delay the launch any longer than was absolutely necessary to work out the licensing logistics.

- reaper

[adamsan]

Originally Posted by nacl99

Damn Straight
Europeans have no one to blame but their own overreaching governments and laws. A good example of this is Frances tax on MP3 players. Over controlling governments suck.

Yeah that'll be it... only last week Tony Blair jumped out in front of me at the Virgin Megastore and screamed *really loudly* at me until I put that Beach Boys CD back on the shelf. And then Jacques Chirac came to my house and threatened to imprison me for listening to the radio. If only we had proponents of personal freedom like GWB and John Ashcroft over here to help us out.

Do you not think this is more of a commercial issue that a political one?

[AppleMatt]

This is good news I suppose, but "few months delay" worries me, Apple never admit delays but somehow often managed to get them. If they're admitting the delay...

Anyway, it looks as-if we're catching up a bit. iPhoto Europe printing, a London Apple store, and eventually iTunes.

I'm starting to anticipate 10.4 now, it's getting close to WWDC...

AppleMatt

[gekko513]

Originally Posted by Patmian212

Well im living with my parents and in 15 and i get $20 a week . i cant afford cds with that and if i do buy one i wont go out for the rest of the week.

SCAVANGERS im ofended it is true that tunes should cost something but some people just cant afford it.

P2p is fine its sharing you put your stuff out there and you get peoples stuff its a big happy family.

Nothing wrong with p2p!!!!!

Weell you're stealing someone elses intellectual property. This is people who have been working for you to enjoy this artform.

I suppose you would be outraged if some stranger took most of your wage because they couldn't afford a trip to Singapore, followed up by excusing themselves by saying they think travel ought to be availiable to all ... and finally ... actually getting away with it.

[Windowlicker]

Originally Posted by Rustus Maximus

Somehow...someway...I am sure this means new G5 PowerBooks next week.

I just know it...

haha! nice one! ;D

but honestly.. this is only good news from my point of view, since I don't own a credit card as of yet. so what I mean is they can discuss things out with the european music company bastards we have here..
if they get enough music i listen to added to itms, they'll have a customer here for sure (and i have to get that credit card).

[gotohamish]

Originally Posted by nsb3000

The Article claims that they want to wait "until they get it right". Perfectionism might be helpful when designing a product such as an computer or ipod, but with an online service you can tweak it all the time. I would think getting it out ASAP should be the number one goal.

I wholeheartedly disagree - if they just hash it together, then make it live, and it has faults this causes a problem.

Imagine you hear about the iTMS, give it a try, and something goes wrong, or it's not as clear as you thought, then you'd get pissed off, and go for an alternative - that's why it's worth getting it right, and stealing customers, rather than just getting out there first.

Look at the iPod - not the first of it's type by a long way, but they waited, and when it came out, it's was perfect - and now look at it!