iTMS Now Available in the UK, France & Germany

[PolarbearTed]

Steve had to play to one tough crowd! Even Alicia had some difficulties in her small set, but she really loosened them up - she's one terrific performer and extremely classy in how she handled herself.

I hope the independents don't hang out for too long, there is some good music to be had. iTunes Music store continues to grow and I think what has been acomplished in a little of a year is quite remarkable considering the tenure of other online music services.

It isn't without it's shortcomings, which I think will be addressed. I think in a few years when ITMS is firmly established it will be a very integral way of buying music.

 

[GregA]

I disagree. It's not for Apple to say what music you are interested in, based on where you live. It's for you to say. They should offer everyone the same catalog of anything they can license. If they add a U.K. subsection or U.K. defaults on the iTMS home page, or some other easy ways to look for regional music, that's fine, because you choose if and when to use it.

I just misread you - I thought you said you'd prefer to have a single, "global" iTMS - meaning you'd get artists on the front page you have never heard of because they are not popular in the US (and who don't sing in English).

What I'm now reading is you are happy with a localised store, with music more known in the local country - BUT we should all have access to purchase any song from any artist from anywhere - which I totally agree with.

Or am I NOW misreading you?

It really suck, that the fu*king record companys still sell different versions of their albums in different countries. We wouldn't have all this waiting and trouble with the iTMS if it weren't for those bastards.<snip>

Did you notice in one of the iTMS UK articles, it mentions that Apple has negotiated GLOBAL deals with some of the European distributors?

[edited for my misreading]

 

[dekator]

You'd like artists on the front page you have never heard of because they are not popular in the US - and they don't sing in English?

Lol. Sorry, but I found this so funny. Well, if I transfer this to my country, Germany, then, yes, I want artitsts that are popular elsewhere because I don't need the iTMS to display the German ones on the first page. I know them anyway...
"Not in English". That's thrilling. Not in English. That must be a terrifying thought for you monoglotts, right ? Sorry, but this is exhilarating.

Again, I apologize but I find this so unbelievable. But then, a good friend of mine that lived many years in Australia also said that "it's a bit out of the world". Anyway, apparently you've got so called 'aborigines' in Australia which reportedly do occasional use other languages than English. That must be unbearable (who can possibly want that?). Shouldn't you 'get rid' of that problem first? /irony

Just read that GregA wrote: What I'm now reading is you are happy with a localised store, with music more known in the local country - BUT we should all have access to purchase any song from any artist from anywhere - which I totally agree with.
Well, that sounds fair. Actually, if I could access other shops and look for country specifics and *then buy the stuff* in my store, I wouldn't mind. But as it is now, I'm horrified by the though to have *only* a localised variant.

 

[johngordon]

so once you guys have calmed down

is the answer :

one global catalogue, with localised storefronts reflecting what is popular in any given country?

Iain

 

[grouse]

just downloaded one foreign singing artist...

with not just one, but a whole group of folk singing, a latin mass, in GERMAN!, Honestly, hopefully Bach's matt passion, or B minor mass will never darken the front page of any itunes music store outside Germany.

And the problem with popular is that it's slightly self-fullfilling. What gets to the top of charts is what's put in front of us.

 

[belair]

iTMS Luxembourg

That would be awesome!

If the iTMS Europe headquarters would establish in Luxembourg. The place is perfect for it. The lowest VAT in Europe, qualified workforce, we all speak 4 languages ( french, german, english and luxemburgish of course ) and we are a very friendly bunch as well. AOL will be openeing a big office here soon for all those reasons so come on APPLE CHOOSE LUXEMBOURG!

Maybe that way I will be able to go and buy my songs physically at the apple music store. I will drive down to their headquarters in Luxembourg City and Steve will help me personnally choose my favorite songs off the shelve. Great.

I got the digital revolution all figured out!

 

[nubero]

Did you notice in one of the iTMS UK articles, it mentions that Apple has negotiated GLOBAL deals with some of the European distributors?

Yeah, maybe some Europeans. But what about all European and all American distributors? Of course I think as well, that the success of the iTMS will get those deals eventually...
It's just that now (or better: a year ago) would have been the perfect time to free the music from it's country bounds...

And just what the bloody hell are the record companys so affraid of? Making money????

Well...

--- --- --- --- ---
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[belair]

money

Thats what it does always come down to.
When apple negotiated those contracts last year nobody knew where the itms would be a year down the road or even more. They did not want to put it all on one horse straight away.
Today with its 70% market share labels are more open to negotiate their contracts.Maybe sell those worldwidre rights with for really good money. Apple needs those rights if it wants to go global.

And the europeen labels are more keen to open to the the world because thats a whole new market for them. I mean does any American know Jhonny Halliday…?

I guess not. Well in France this guy has been selling albums by the millions for decades. He did some concerts in Las Vegas once. Only french people showed up.

With the itms the europeans can acces the american market wich is so coveted and so hard to break into.

 

[rhoughton]

so come on APPLE CHOOSE LUXEMBOURG!

They already have.

 

[belair]

quote : they already have


Ups, lookin foolish now!

Well done, then.

 

[JGowan]

Why were the Europeans so quiet at the announcement? Is that normally how they would act or were they upset with Jobs in only bringing the store to a few countries? I'm honestly curious and really hoping someone from the UK can shed some light. Maybe our cultures are very different in this way too. They were giving Jobs nothing. And Keys had to demand that they give up a little something... it was pretty entertaining.

 

[belair]

I guess they dont see Steve Jobs or apple with the same magic glow, we mac geeks do.

For the music industry he is just another CEO who wants to take over the world. Or at least the music world. And he is not english, and his jokes are not "english humour©" really, and he should have offerd free lager for everyone before the show started.

But what do I know I am not english.

 

[Stike]

Why were the Europeans so quiet at the announcement? Is that normally how they would act or were they upset with Jobs in only bringing the store to a few countries? I'm honestly curious and really hoping someone from the UK can shed some light. Maybe our cultures are very different in this way too. They were giving Jobs nothing. And Keys had to demand that they give up a little something... it was pretty entertaining.

People in Europe are not as much the gung-ho types you see more often in the US. Its hard to get them excited for those things.
By the way, I did some posts on various console gamers forums about the iTMS to add to the publicity... but the response was quite disappointing on both forums.

Most of the guys who repiled said that they wanted to have the original CD, and not some downloaded song because "Why should I pay for a download if I can get it for free?"
They would rather like to see CD prices drop instead of buying downloadable content.

 

[Gee4orce]

I told someone at work that I downloaded a song from the iTMS. His response was "Why didn't you just get it off Kazzaa ?".

Next time he tells me that he's bought a book or something, I'll just say "Why didn't you steal it ?"

 

[kettle]

Free Lager

I guess they dont see Steve Jobs or apple with the same magic glow, we mac geeks do.

For the music industry he is just another CEO who wants to take over the world. Or at least the music world. And he is not english, and his jokes are not "english humour©" really, and he should have offerd free lager for everyone before the show started.

But what do I know I am not english.

Offering free lager is a good way to licence "english humour©" temporally.
(50p per pint is also good)

 

[asif786]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/17/hmv_ipod/

Interesting article. HMV are selling downloads from OD2 that dont work with the ipods that they are selling.

And a 'signficant update' is expected soon...

 

[asif786]

Wohooo - they just showed the ipod ad during a break int he england game - there's tens of millions of people watching that game!!!

btw, if you think you can guess how many tunes will be sold, go here:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/75920/

 

[caveman_uk]

Why were the Europeans so quiet at the announcement? Is that normally how they would act or were they upset with Jobs in only bringing the store to a few countries? I'm honestly curious and really hoping someone from the UK can shed some light. Maybe our cultures are very different in this way too. They were giving Jobs nothing. And Keys had to demand that they give up a little something... it was pretty entertaining.

Maybe because no real people were invited? AFAIK it was just the press and music execs. I know we're a fairly reserved bunch - less inclined to 'whoop' at the correct places than some of the US audiences - but if real mac users had been invited then maybe, just maybe Jobs would have got a more helpful audience?

 

[whooleytoo]

Maybe because no real people were invited? AFAIK it was just the press and music execs. I know we're a fairly reserved bunch - less inclined to 'whoop' at the correct places than some of the US audiences - but if real mac users had been invited then maybe, just maybe Jobs would have got a more helpful audience?

Nah, it's only because in the US, they have those big, flashing "Applause!" signs!!

Seriously, I don't know if hardened Mac addicts would have done any better. How many times can one watch an iTunes demonstration, and still be excited?

 

[russed]

Why were the Europeans so quiet at the announcement? Is that normally how they would act or were they upset with Jobs in only bringing the store to a few countries? I'm honestly curious and really hoping someone from the UK can shed some light. Maybe our cultures are very different in this way too. They were giving Jobs nothing. And Keys had to demand that they give up a little something... it was pretty entertaining.

we brits are more subduded in cases like that. we dont whoop and cheer at every single thing, we generally watch and applaud at the end.

also there was nothing so exciting to get worked up about

we honestly are not boring though over here!

 

[GregA]

Lol.<snipped>
"Not in English". That's thrilling. Not in English. That must be a terrifying thought for you monoglotts, right ? Sorry, but this is exhilarating.

Again, I apologize but I find this so unbelievable.

Hallo dekator. 'Tut mir leid aber mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut, besonders wenn Es nicht gesprochen ist.

Du hast mich nicht _ganz_ verstanden. Ich mag Liede aus anderen Ländern (besonders Ärzte und Toten Hosen eigentlich, und die kann ich nicht hier Kaufen). Ich dachte nur, daß der amerikanische Guy wollte einen amerikanischen iTMS für alle, und das wollte ich nicht.

So back to English, I haven't spoken German for years. I agree I'd love to find songs from other countries that are good, but I'd like to start from a page specific to my country. Already I check out the charts from other countries, so a simple way to turn on the German charts etc from my iTMS would be great (if Australia gets an iTMS!) I'm happy with reading German, but if I wanted to look up the Czech charts I'd like that in English just for convenience sake.

Didn't much like your irony about the Aborigines.

 

[GregA]

so once you guys have calmed down

is the answer :

one global catalogue, with localised storefronts reflecting what is popular in any given country?

Iain

Hi Iain,

Well that's my answer. If Apple was to choose one storefront for the whole world, I hope they take input from Apple-distributors around the world rather than decide what's international at Apple headquarters (nor do I want an 'iTMS Commonwealth" for non-US English countries).

[edit]: Hell, I'll take what we can get for now though!!

 

[mrpod]

not all songs in us avalible in uk

I tryed to download adia by sara mac clocksomething...Its avalible in the us.but not the uk site.Is there other examples of this that others have found?

 

[nubero]

I tryed to download adia by sara mac clocksomething...Its avalible in the us.but not the uk site.Is there other examples of this that others have found?

Yes. Indochine is only aviable in the French store. If anyone at at Apple (or I guess it's more because ofthe record companies) had a clue about Europe, they would know, that the artists here are actually quite known beyond the borders of their own country...

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[nicos]

aaargh! no Radiohead

Can't get no Radiohead. Damn. Where do we go from here?