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Apple Launches iTMS Japan

There I was thinking at one point that Apple would drag their heals for non usa markets ( as is the norm ). Fortunately, this wasn't the case.

And Napster are quite a few months behind:
http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.p...er_records_japan_teaming_up_for_online_music/

...Teaming up with Tower records ( didn't they go bankrupt a few years back?) to get a Japan store going.

At one point it sounded as though record companies would kill iTMS straight off with unrealistically high charge ( the around 300 Yen rumour ). Glad they've seen sense if thats the case.

Shame about the ongoing lack of Aussie / NZ iTMS.

At least Japan gets the Store and hopefully this in turn will boost Apple's iPod fortunes there.
 
I bet Gackt will fit right in with this, considering how much promo he does for Apple ...
 
aussie_geek said:
So SONY BMG is the culprit holding up the ITMS in Australia. Doesn't this record label have songs on the other ITMS's? If so, why would they be wanting to do this down here....

Doesn't make sense...


aussie_geek
Click to expand...

Because it's probably Apple Australia negotiating with sony/bmg Australia. 1/2 a brain between them ;).

If I were Apple I'd just run without them. There's plenty of other good music. If sony/bmg want to lose sales so be it. I for one will go out of my way to just download sony/bmg crap on p2p rather than use through iTMS when it opens here now :mad:.
 
Sony on iTMS Japan

Is Sony actually on iTMS Japan? Perhaps they are, but have limited artists? Or did they do the same as Australia, and Japan went live without them?

At least, I looked for Dreams Come True (who I believe are with Sony Japan) and I can't see them there...
 
michaelb said:
Any fellow Aussies fancy starting a mail campaign to point out how bloody stupid they're being?

Anyone with media contacts?
Click to expand...

I write for the Tasmania paper and could eaily raise this. In fact, I will because I'm running low on ideas. :) That said, I don't think a Tasmanian paper is going to rock SonyBMG to their core. :D
 
curmi said:
Is Sony actually on iTMS Japan? Perhaps they are, but have limited artists? Or did they do the same as Australia, and Japan went live without them?

At least, I looked for Dreams Come True (who I believe are with Sony Japan) and I can't see them there...
Click to expand...

You know what? You're right. Sony is not on iTMS Japan.




irmongoose
 
comeon Steve, where is SONY MUSIC in iTMS J?!

I just browse around in the store and unfortunately still a lot of good stuff missing. quite disappointed, but this is a good start.
 
The two tier pricing for single tracks is an interesting departure from the other iTMS stores - is this a sign of things to come? Anyone confirm if the usage rights are the same as the other iTMS stores?
 
sushi said:
Better than the rumored 300 yen price! :D

Also, with the current exchange rate, it is a bit less than $2 -- closer to 1.85. Still not 99 cents, but better than $2.

Sushi
Click to expand...
There are even some songs for ¥150.
 

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.Andy said:
Because it's probably Apple Australia negotiating with sony/bmg Australia. 1/2 a brain between them ;).
Click to expand...


:D

I think pressure will keep piling up and they will relent. Whats the point in forcing Oz when Japan has got ITMS...
 
china

I just got back from China about 4 days ago and a new cd (not on the popular black market) is going to run someone about 2 or 3 American dollars.

I wonder how Apple would be able to open an ITMS in China. Any ideas? :confused:
 
Loge said:
The two tier pricing for single tracks is an interesting departure from the other iTMS stores - is this a sign of things to come? Anyone confirm if the usage rights are the same as the other iTMS stores?
Click to expand...

Yes, the usage rights are the same. You can see for yourself in the press release, as linked to from the MR front page.




irmongoose
 
OK heres the deal...

As an Australian, and as someone who worked in the music industry for almost ten years (previously), I can tell you why we are being blocked.
The fat cats in Sydney and Melbourne get paid extraordinary amounts for not doing a lot, just repackaging artists that their label mates have already made successful overseas. They will see that if downloads sell well in Australia, it decreases the needs to have Australian record label people so well paid, as it increases the "internationalism" of music.
Added to the obvious fact that with what has happened in Japan with Sony, you are now looking at a hostile "partner" who will do anything to block iTunes success where it can, I think Apple should launch without SonyBMG, and let the other record companies make the $$$$ if they are smart enough to play ball.

Phew. First post.
 
wedge antilies said:
As an Australian, and as someone who worked in the music industry for almost ten years (previously), I can tell you why we are being blocked.
The fat cats in Sydney and Melbourne get paid extraordinary amounts for not doing a lot, just repackaging artists that their label mates have already made successful overseas. They will see that if downloads sell well in Australia, it decreases the needs to have Australian record label people so well paid, as it increases the "internationalism" of music.
Added to the obvious fact that with what has happened in Japan with Sony, you are now looking at a hostile "partner" who will do anything to block iTunes success where it can, I think Apple should launch without SonyBMG, and let the other record companies make the $$$$ if they are smart enough to play ball.
Phew. First post.
Click to expand...

Nice first post :)
Agree totally, Apple should launch without them, show them the popularity it gets, and when the cashed-up teen market complains "where's our Anthony Callea/Guy Sebastian/etc. albums" (they're the most popular Australian Idol contestants, who are signed to BMG), point the finger at Sony and call them out for not getting in line.
 
gammamonk said:
I was just thinking that same thing. I can recommend some really crazy stuff for you guys, but you can't actually download it. >_<
Click to expand...

Please do so nevertheless :)
 
iTMS Japan

So they can get iTMS Japan up and running, but not iTMS Australia.
 
At long, long last... although at least right now there seem to be a whole lot of older-school J-bands missing (I note, because that's what my wife went looking for). I don't see Kome Kome Club, Southern All Stars, SMAP, and the soundtrack selection is positively barren of Japanese composers.

The prices are good compared to Japanese CD prices, but the totally broken CD rental system makes it look pretty expensive, particularly when you consider that Japanese labels are even more userous than US ones.

Their search system seems a little wonky right now, though; it's interesting that several composers are showing up properly whether you search for their name in Kanji or Romanized Japanese, and in some cases it will display their names Romanized if your system language is set to English. However, a search for Nobuo Uematsu's name in Japanese only resulted in three hits, while searching for it in English turned 14 albums, two of which don't even overlap. Bizarre.

On the same note, it's interesting that we have more of his Final Fantasy soundtracks on the US iTMS than the Japanese one, and the JiTMS even has the weird version of the FFVIII soundtrack without Faye Wong's Eyes On Me, though they do get the really pretty Songbook album that the US doesn't have yet. On the positive side, it would appear that the FFIX Piano album just got added to the US iTMS along with the Japanee store.

Here's hoping that's part of a trend of more international flavor in the US store, since I don't got me a Japanese credit card and the US versions are a whole lot cheaper!
 
2 in 2 days.

I'm liking this, MM yesterday and ITMS Japan today. Apple are really rolling things out...how long will it continue? Still waiting on one of these "great pipeline products" too.

ITMS NZ? I think we got a little wait yet. FFSake our PM is being harassed to go to court for speeding. We got a little growing up to do im some areas yet.
 
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