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iTunes Music Store Japan in 2004
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macrumors G3
I hope that we can get the Japanese music here in the US. Is it just me or is that store huge😱 😱
My Apple store is in a mall, never be able to fit that many iMac and still have room for everything else
My Apple store is in a mall, never be able to fit that many iMac and still have room for everything else
OK, now we're getting somewhere
got to love the net! and the low ceiling of the place 😉
Been to Tokyo myself, can never get over the brightness of all the stores there, wondering if electricity's expensive there, 'cos it's so BRIGHT at night it hurts my eyes...
I do like the Apple logo on the building though... maybe it can compete with Phillipe Stark designed Asahi Beer Headquarter 😀
got to love the net! and the low ceiling of the place 😉
Been to Tokyo myself, can never get over the brightness of all the stores there, wondering if electricity's expensive there, 'cos it's so BRIGHT at night it hurts my eyes...
I do like the Apple logo on the building though... maybe it can compete with Phillipe Stark designed Asahi Beer Headquarter 😀
michael666
macrumors member
What a lovely day.
Luckily, I'm living in Japan right now. I have to start to compile a wishlist, so I can spend my money right away when it opens. Also, my wife has to get a new Windows PC with XP, so she can use at least iTunes and the music store. And by the time I'm going back to Europe (in about one year), there'll also be an Apple music store! Really cool.
By the way, does anyone know if they will have a discount at the opening of the ginza store? 10% off of my new iPod would be nice 🙂
Luckily, I'm living in Japan right now. I have to start to compile a wishlist, so I can spend my money right away when it opens. Also, my wife has to get a new Windows PC with XP, so she can use at least iTunes and the music store. And by the time I'm going back to Europe (in about one year), there'll also be an Apple music store! Really cool.
By the way, does anyone know if they will have a discount at the opening of the ginza store? 10% off of my new iPod would be nice 🙂
They don't have any discount deals going on. But they are giving away 2,500 free T-shirts for the visitors.
http://www.apple.co.jp/retail/ginza/
New Apple Store opening in US
Dec 6th will be the opening date for second Apple Store in GA.
It's located just north of Atlanta and is located in the North Point Circle.
They will be giving free demo's of all the classes they will be offering and 1,000 Apple T-shirts to first 1,000 folks to enter the store.
This new store will bring Apple Stores total in the US to 73. I bet Apple will have around 100 or more stores in the US by end of next yr and probably around 5 overseas.
Dec 6th will be the opening date for second Apple Store in GA.
It's located just north of Atlanta and is located in the North Point Circle.
They will be giving free demo's of all the classes they will be offering and 1,000 Apple T-shirts to first 1,000 folks to enter the store.
This new store will bring Apple Stores total in the US to 73. I bet Apple will have around 100 or more stores in the US by end of next yr and probably around 5 overseas.
Trowaman
macrumors 6502a
I got store envy . . .
My Apple store is also is a mall. Infact, all 3 of mine are in a mall since I'm going to school near Dallas. Houston = small store in large mall, both of dallas = small store in medium malls. I want to see an apple buding someday *sigh
Also if this Japanese music store means what I think it does, please bring the Americans Yoko Kano (Cowboy Bebop music) and JRock. Those chicks from Kill Bill wouldn't be bad either (thanks Terrintino for broadening my taste!)
My Apple store is also is a mall. Infact, all 3 of mine are in a mall since I'm going to school near Dallas. Houston = small store in large mall, both of dallas = small store in medium malls. I want to see an apple buding someday *sigh
Also if this Japanese music store means what I think it does, please bring the Americans Yoko Kano (Cowboy Bebop music) and JRock. Those chicks from Kill Bill wouldn't be bad either (thanks Terrintino for broadening my taste!)
irmongoose
macrumors 68030
Gotta love Apple 😀
That's all I can say... I can't wait to get to the Apple Store on Sunday!
irmongoose
That's all I can say... I can't wait to get to the Apple Store on Sunday!
irmongoose
I go to Japan once or twice a year and have a friend who is somewhat high up in the LOX chain. From what I understand there were many discussions about Apple not having a store in Akihabara because it would eat into two very successful Apple stores there now... one being LOX and the other is an all Apple store (can't remember the name) that is one block off the main street. Those two stores are responsible for close to 75% of all Apple computer sales in all of Japan.
It seems the Apple stores in Japan really are about selling the brand rather than actual computers, like the US stores are supposed to be.
irmongoose
macrumors 68030
Is the store you're talking about Sofmap? Or perhaps Akibakan...
Very true. Brand selling is one of the largest markets in Japan... no matter how bad the product is, or more often, how pointless it is, or even more often, how expensive it is, if its got a brand name on it Japanese people recognize and like, it's going to sell.
Not saying Apple is bad... 😛
irmongoose
I read on some site that Apple chose Ginza because they are not represented there and would be competing with other companies like Sony. In Akihabara or other areas, they don't want to be competing with their resellers.
http://money.cnn.com/2003/11/27/technology/apple.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes
75% of all sales in Japan? I don't think that's possible 😀
What I know for sure is that there are many computer retail stores all over Japan that have Apple. LAOX alone has bunch of locations which have Apple products. Yodobashi, Bic and Sofmap have very big operations too.
As to the new Apple store in Ginza being a brand reconginition-oriented store, I agree with that.
Ginza is no place to shop for computers for the usual people like me. For those of you not familiar with Ginza area, it's like opening a computer store next to Prada on Madison Ave. in NYC.
Thought 1: I'm with the people hoping that the iTMS Japan will carry Japanese music, and that it'll also be available to folks in the US. 90% of the music I listen to is Japanese, and if they started carrying a worthwhile selection on the iTMS US, I'd end up spending so much money it's not even funny. My wife'd better hope they don't...
Thought 2: Ginza makes far more sense than Akihabara. Apple's already got a non-official presence in Akihabara, and although it'd be fun, I don't think it'd make for the most efficient sales location at this point. Maybe later, though.
Ginza, on the othr hand, is a no brainer. Who're they selling to? Idiot Japanese consumers with far more money than sense for whom anything with a status-symbol brand name is an object of worship. They go to Ginza, they might want a computer, and there's a big, Brand Approved(tm) store staring them in the face selling nice looking computers. Instant sale.
These are the same folks who drool over designer handbags that cost hundreds of dollars, and they're easy prey for a company that makes stuff as cool (both in actuality and in image) as Apple. Sell to 'em. Sell lots to 'em.
Smart move.
Thought 2: Ginza makes far more sense than Akihabara. Apple's already got a non-official presence in Akihabara, and although it'd be fun, I don't think it'd make for the most efficient sales location at this point. Maybe later, though.
Ginza, on the othr hand, is a no brainer. Who're they selling to? Idiot Japanese consumers with far more money than sense for whom anything with a status-symbol brand name is an object of worship. They go to Ginza, they might want a computer, and there's a big, Brand Approved(tm) store staring them in the face selling nice looking computers. Instant sale.
These are the same folks who drool over designer handbags that cost hundreds of dollars, and they're easy prey for a company that makes stuff as cool (both in actuality and in image) as Apple. Sell to 'em. Sell lots to 'em.
Smart move.
A Bigger Question
Will the Apple Store be the same for everyone in every country? Will everyone have access to one's own music? If I had music accepted to iTunes, would people all around the world be able to listen to it?
I would think Apple would want everyone to have access to the same stuff online. Seems like it would be the "Steve Jobs way" - in which case, the store will significantly increase its size.
I could see different start pages for different countries (as countries have different favorites and tastes for music - and there's language, too...)
For Japan, at least 8 of the top 10 singles are native to Japan (okay, the top 10 are up for debate, but I guarantee you the ratio is mighty close to that).
Agreed, though I think there's a bigger question:
Will the Apple Store be the same for everyone in every country? Will everyone have access to one's own music? If I had music accepted to iTunes, would people all around the world be able to listen to it?
I would think Apple would want everyone to have access to the same stuff online. Seems like it would be the "Steve Jobs way" - in which case, the store will significantly increase its size.
I could see different start pages for different countries (as countries have different favorites and tastes for music - and there's language, too...)
For Japan, at least 8 of the top 10 singles are native to Japan (okay, the top 10 are up for debate, but I guarantee you the ratio is mighty close to that).
what about Hong Kong!
I can gurantee you that Hong Kong is next in line in Asia because Hong Kong is the next largest shopping in Asia. In Causeway Bay or smack in Central probably has any many people shopping like Champs in Paris and what not.
Apple can only benefit from this. ITMS for Hong Kong would be good because it will have both HK music, Chinese music, Taiwanese music and English music which will take a big step into Asian itunes.
I can gurantee you that Hong Kong is next in line in Asia because Hong Kong is the next largest shopping in Asia. In Causeway Bay or smack in Central probably has any many people shopping like Champs in Paris and what not.
Apple can only benefit from this. ITMS for Hong Kong would be good because it will have both HK music, Chinese music, Taiwanese music and English music which will take a big step into Asian itunes.
sugoi ya!
If my gf isn't too busy, I'll ask her to stop the new Apple Store in Ginza for me. Meanwhile. I'll have enough mney to go there in the early to mid spring.
Now the Japan iTMS--I would pay a little extra to pay songs from Japan, especially for songs by SMAP, Utada Hikaru, etc. I'll even download the Japanese version of iTunes if need be.
If my gf isn't too busy, I'll ask her to stop the new Apple Store in Ginza for me. Meanwhile. I'll have enough mney to go there in the early to mid spring.
Now the Japan iTMS--I would pay a little extra to pay songs from Japan, especially for songs by SMAP, Utada Hikaru, etc. I'll even download the Japanese version of iTunes if need be.
I'm kinda wondering if Japanese iTMS will be exclusive to people with credit cards with Japanese billing address, just like the current US one???
I assume that's the way it will be, considering all the record label contracts. I'm very curious how Apple will deliver multiple country iTMS solutions...
And I'm sure Apple will offer non-credit card payment option too, since Japan is not quite a credit card society yet.
Anyhow, it will be very interesting to see the first non-US iTMS.
I assume that's the way it will be, considering all the record label contracts. I'm very curious how Apple will deliver multiple country iTMS solutions...
And I'm sure Apple will offer non-credit card payment option too, since Japan is not quite a credit card society yet.
Anyhow, it will be very interesting to see the first non-US iTMS.
I *really* wish they would, but I kind of doubt they will sell japanese music on the US iTMS.
There would be a bunch of tax and legal hoops to jump thru, and they probably would assume there isn't enough of a market to bother.
They would assume incorrectly imho, foerign music has a proportionately big following amoung the same kind of people who are likely to get a mac and an iPod, and having such easy access to foreign music via the iTMS (no spending time and money importing CDs overseas) might be just the justification that some (like myself) need to spend a few hundred bucks on an iPod.
Or on North Michigan Ave. in Chicago... Oh wait they allready have an Applestore there (the biggest in the US).
Apple seems to be trying to position thier stores in stylish areas, rather than amoung other computer stores.
A great idea for selling the brand, we'll see how well it works for selling actual products.