iPod and iTunes Success in Japan

[Doctor Q]

Is it coincidence that Dr Q just returned from Japan????

No, not a coincidence. I personally brokered all these agreements.

OK, not really, but I did spot iPods everywhere in Japan. Every electronics district in cities I visited had stores with iPod sales racks in prominent places, usually right in the front facing the street, and I saw lots of people on the subways listening to music, including one fellow watching a Japanese video on a shiny new black iPod and laughing to himself out loud.

I found CDs to be rather expensive in record stores there, so the iTunes Music Store was clearly destined to be a popular source of music.

 

[DTphonehome]

Hear, hear! Bring on iTMS International. I'd even be willing to pay premium pricing (matching other countries' prices) if the content is good. And what easier and cheaper way is there to sell music internationally than through iTunes?

I can't even imagine the licensing headaches getting that to work. The current system is very piecemeal, with everyone wanting to get a slice of the pie. That's why it took so long to get the store up in other countries (and the US took plenty of negotiating as well). International raises a whole host of other problems. If only it were as simple as throwing a switch and allowing everyone access to one huge catalog. Remember, there's thousands of people in scores of countries who need to be negotiated with, many overlap in different countries, and everyone wants to make sure that they are getting the best deal possible.

 

[jnasato]

This is great!

I'm happy for Apple. ...and Japan. No more of: go to rental shop, rent singles, copy to MD madness!

 

[Thanatoast]

I can't even imagine the licensing headaches getting that to work. The current system is very piecemeal, with everyone wanting to get a slice of the pie. That's why it took so long to get the store up in other countries (and the US took plenty of negotiating as well). International raises a whole host of other problems. If only it were as simple as throwing a switch and allowing everyone access to one huge catalog. Remember, there's thousands of people in scores of countries who need to be negotiated with, many overlap in different countries, and everyone wants to make sure that they are getting the best deal possible.

Yeah, but wouldn't it be in their interests to do so? Some money is better than no money.

 

[Counterfit]

I think I might be buying some Japanese iTMS cards from j-list/j-box so I can buy some stuff from Geneon. Of course, Amazon has a better selection than it used to.

 

[asxtb]

Really not a suprise that the iPod is doing so well in Japan. As Doctor Q said, CD prices are very expensive in Japan and iTunes sells albums at about half the price. Also Sony's music store here is really expensive. So most people use iTunes. (It's a shame iTunes didn't come to Japan earlier.)

But also, Japan is an exremely fashion-centric society. People spend thousands on Louis Vuitton bags and wallets just to be fashionable. Right now the iPod is THE item to have, so people are flocking to the stores to buy them. Plus Japan has a "xenophila" towards America and American culture.

 

[iHavenolife]

Good next year by this time Steve will be showing the iPods market share in the WORLD instead of the U.S. just joking but you never know

 

[rosalindavenue]

I dont think you can really be surprised about the country differences in itunes-- think about DVD regions. The media companies are conditioned to have distinct DRMs and revenue streams in different countries. I do think that Apple is one of the few players in this market who can possibly get DRM internationalized; but given the ineptness of the formerly formidable Sony, I don't think Apple will get anywhere either.