iTunes Music Store Ireland Opens

[zen]

This good news, because Ireland was a strange omission from the European additions, and by slipping it in now that suggests that Apple has something else lined up for Macworld next week.

I'll put hard cash on the iTunes music store Australia/New Zealand opening (Aus/NZ would have to be opened together I think. We get grouped together for lots of things, although I expect our stores to be separate). Apple Australia are holding a special mystery event the same day as the keynote, and a couple of weeks ago there were two news stories (reported here as well I think) that Apple was trying to get itunes.co.nz and itunes.com.au off the people that had already registered them.

So with Ireland now quietly catered for, this all points to one thing: iTunes Music Store Australia/New Zealand, launch date Wednesday 12th January!!!

Can't wait!!

Zen

 

[b-randomly]

I'd think that Brazil, South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina would be viable markets as well...

Actually, he already said New Zealand. But the other ones work two.

And to rebuff swissmann and rikers_mailbox, you're absolutely right about the rumors thing. It was nice when we'd get them a couple of days in advance, but this whole week stuff's got to go. Seriously, I like waking up at the crack of noon on a Tuesday (after spending all night on MacRumors), and hurrying over to Apple.com to check out their newest addition. TS has kinda sucked all the fun out.

 

[fatbarstard]

Mo Money 4 ur musack...

Its a sad fact of life that pricing of music between countries is controlled by the music companies (bit silly calling them record companies don;t you think?). Apple's biggest problem is getting sign off from the music companies and the performing rights association in each country. its a legal quagmire and I would bet that Apple is probably skimming a bit more in countries where its legal costs have been higher to launch iTMS.

Also IMTS is based on well known price points (ask any retailer). So some of the difference when taking ex rates into account is moving the price to a price point. I mean $1.27 doesn't sound nearly as catchy as $1.49.. or it could be $1.52???

 

[JFreak]

Finland already has an iTMS.

yes, and thank god for that. given that finland is VERY SMALL market and sweden that is much bigger market doesn't have itms yet, one can easily think it's because we use euros and swedes stubbornly kept their own money like the britons. apple however couldn't afford leaving UK without music store despite the fact that they seem to love the 0.99/9.99 pricing scheme. there just wouldn't be a itms europe without an itms uk, so they had to make an exception they probably will not do in any other case. (why on earth do they not have an itms japan ???)

 

[pkis]

yupp, very much looks like it.

 

[feeze]

This good news, because Ireland was a strange omission from the European additions, and by slipping it in now that suggests that Apple has something else lined up for Macworld next week.

I'll put hard cash on the iTunes music store Australia/New Zealand opening (Aus/NZ would have to be opened together I think. We get grouped together for lots of things, although I expect our stores to be separate). Apple Australia are holding a special mystery event the same day as the keynote, and a couple of weeks ago there were two news stories (reported here as well I think) that Apple was trying to get itunes.co.nz and itunes.com.au off the people that had already registered them.

So with Ireland now quietly catered for, this all points to one thing: iTunes Music Store Australia/New Zealand, launch date Wednesday 12th January!!!

Can't wait!!

Zen

Supposidly the Apple Australia event has now been restricted to Apple resellers. I'm not even sure if the press is going to be there. This could be a sign that Apple are planning to open a retail sotre in Sydney.

edit: this email was sent to many people who applied to go to the event.

"Thank you for your interest in this event.

Please note that the Macworld 2005 local Sydney event is for our
business partners only. Please accept our apologies for any confusion.
Following this event our business partners will be able to answer all
of your questions in relation to the Macworld conference. If you are
interested in finding out more information about Apple products then
please visit an Apple Authorised Reseller, call 133 622 or visit
http://www.apple.com.au The Macworld keynote presentation will be available
on the Apple web site shortly after the opening of the Macworld
conference in San Francisco."

 

[MacMyDay]

iTMS Music Prices, Normalised to US Dollar

Canada: $0.80
US: $0.99
EU: $1.30
UK: $1.48

Now the EU and UK prices will include local taxes, but remove the tax from the UK one and it is still $1.26

You're trying to transfer everything into a single currency. It's expensive to people outside of that country, but not within it. When I go to France I can't believe that it costs me nearly £1 for a can of Coke, when in England it costs £0.5, but it's completely different economies. It used to cost (I don't and haven't bought any singles in years) £4 for a single. That means you get one song with about 2 other crap songs on it. From iTunes, for those 3 songs it's £2.37. It is NOT expensive. And you'll find the same in other countries where item X costs more than others. If you convert the current British Pound, everything in America is so bloody cheap, but once upon a time it was £1 = $1 and during this era, it was the other way around

 

[Bakey]

they should also send digital guiness pints per song to help make the irish feel more at home

Eh?! A pint of what? Ahhh, I get'ya you mean GUINNESS!!! Is that "cold" or "regular"??

 

[Xtremehkr]

Clannad and the Cranberries rejoice?

 

[mazurka]

they should also send digital guiness pints per song to help make the irish feel more at home

Why is it that every time Ireland is mentioned someone has to refer to Guinness? When the UK store opened we didn't say:"Hey, are they giving away pints of 'bitter' with every song to keep the English happy?"

Contrary to myth, not that many of us actually drink Guinness. Nor do we wear shamrocks in our lapels, or say 'Begorrah'.

 

[billyboy]

Why is it that every time Ireland is mentioned someone has to refer to Guinness? When the UK store opened we didn't say:"Hey, are they giving away pints of 'bitter' with every song to keep the English happy?"

Contrary to myth, not that many of us actually drink Guinness. Nor do we wear shamrocks in our lapels, or say 'Begorrah'.

Instead of a free guiness with every song, could I have a free Corrs. I promise to buy every track in the store if so.

 

[redAPPLE]

Why is it that every time Ireland is mentioned someone has to refer to Guinness? When the UK store opened we didn't say:"Hey, are they giving away pints of 'bitter' with every song to keep the English happy?"

Contrary to myth, not that many of us actually drink Guinness. Nor do we wear shamrocks in our lapels, or say 'Begorrah'.

so out of curiosity (not wanting to hijack the thread), what do many irish drink, if not guinness?

 

[Bakey]

Why is it that every time Ireland is mentioned someone has to refer to Guinness? When the UK store opened we didn't say:"Hey, are they giving away pints of 'bitter' with every song to keep the English happy?"

Contrary to myth, not that many of us actually drink Guinness. Nor do we wear shamrocks in our lapels, or say 'Begorrah'.

What!!! And doesn't every Irishman/woman NOT say "oh bee-Jesus" and greet everyone with "top of the morning"???

I am of course saying this very much tongue-in-cheek... and you're right, it's oh so easy to drop in the old stereotypes. I mean c'mon isn't it right that every American drinks Budweiser[sp?] what with it being "the King of beers"?? Again folks look beyond and you will find the sarcasm!!

 

[mazurka]

so out of curiosity (not wanting to hijack the thread), what do many irish drink, if not guinness?

We drink pretty much what everyone else does. Just more of it.

 

[Super Dave]

Welcome Ireland.

David

 

[jholzner]

Why is it that every time Ireland is mentioned someone has to refer to Guinness? When the UK store opened we didn't say:"Hey, are they giving away pints of 'bitter' with every song to keep the English happy?"

Contrary to myth, not that many of us actually drink Guinness. Nor do we wear shamrocks in our lapels, or say 'Begorrah'.

My world has just crumbled.

 

[iChan]

This good news, because Ireland was a strange omission from the European additions, and by slipping it in now that suggests that Apple has something else lined up for Macworld next week.

I'll put hard cash on the iTunes music store Australia/New Zealand opening (Aus/NZ would have to be opened together I think. We get grouped together for lots of things, although I expect our stores to be separate). Apple Australia are holding a special mystery event the same day as the keynote, and a couple of weeks ago there were two news stories (reported here as well I think) that Apple was trying to get itunes.co.nz and itunes.com.au off the people that had already registered them.

So with Ireland now quietly catered for, this all points to one thing: iTunes Music Store Australia/New Zealand, launch date Wednesday 12th January!!!

Can't wait!!

Zen

Aus/NZ & Japan and i'll be happy.

 

[Raid]

When irish ears are iTMSing...

Congrats to those of you on the ol' emerald isle!
As a fellow long time iTMS anticipator I know this is an exciting time for you, but you might be somewhat disappointed after searching through the US store like I did in the months before the Canadian iTMS opened. It seems that the US store has much more of the ‘fringe’ bands and singers that the CDN iTMS.
I was so excited to see all the songs offered by Matthew Sweet, and Henry Rollins (as a couple of examples), but when I search for the same artists on the CDN iTMS the listings are woefully pathetic (Henry only has one spoken word album, and Matthew only has a few tracks from compilations)! So yes you now have an iTMS, and that's great, but it might not be the same as the US store.

 

[Gasu E.]

After Eire iTunes

I have it on good authority that the Dublin Apple Store will eschew the usual Genius Bar for a Guinness Bar.

 

[whooleytoo]

Nope. I don't believe it. No way could iTMS Ireland be open. Just to prove it, I'm opening it now and... well ok, there's no warning screen. But there's no way it'll let me buy a song, buying now... well ok, it's let me download a song... But it definitely won't let me play the song.

WTF? It works! What am I going to complain about now?!?!?

 

[k2k koos]

Hooray!

I don't live in Ireland, but this has to be good news! Keep growing with the market share. The only thing I think Apple has to sort out with the record companies, and that is to make the entire library of each country available world wide, there is so much stuff out there worth listening too!
Even if it means paying an export fee (although rather not) on top of the usual track price of $0.99 of let's say $0.20... or what ever it translates to in other currencies, that surely should not be difficult to do?

Just an example: I am trying to get a hold of B.T. tracks in the U.K. but can't get them, although they are widely available on the US store.....

 

[Yvan256]

As a Canadian who waited MONTHS after MONTHS for the Canadian iTMS, believe me when I say: congratulations, you FINALLY got your iTMS too!

 

[Yvan256]

Once again, iTunes is appreciably more expensive outside the United States. Must be all the postage and packaging to send those CDs international mail. Oh wait...

Except in Canada.

 

[Yvan256]

You forgot Canada!

What are you talking about?

 

[Yvan256]

This is great news but how did this get past us?

ThinkSecret's spy has been found and put in a lawyer's storage bin.