Sony BMG Artists Now Available on iTMS Australia

[Chundles]

So are any of the top labels still holding out at any of the (current) iTunes stores? Or was Sony in Australia the final holdout?

I too will be wary of Sony CDs in future, but a Blu-Ray equipped PS3 does sound tempting ...if I could get over having to use console-style controls.

Not sure, I think they were the last ones.

 

[Chundles]

I stand corrected. When you're not a native of a given country, the little details do tend to trip you up. Now, if you'll excuse me, a kangaroo has just jumped past the office window and is doing its best to disrupt our electricity supply; I need to do something about that.

Don't ya just hate that?

My 'roo pulled his hamstring yesterday and I couldn't get to work.

 

[colinp]

But if you buy a product from the regular Apple online store, like a computer, they do charge tax.

Unless you live in tax-free New Hampshire that is...

 

[aswitcher]

I hope this isn't all the Sony/BMG stuff because some artists only have a few albums available at the moment, not their whole collection.

Great to see anyway.

 

[Nermal]

Don't ya just hate that?

My 'roo pulled his hamstring yesterday and I couldn't get to work.

When I was in Sydney last May I was pleased to find that the kangaroo service was largely fast and efficient, although it was a tad more expensive than I would've liked. I guess some of you raise your own, rather than rent the public ones, which would of course be better value

 

[lucas]

i hoped on and looked in the added this week bit and saw this guy with a funny name (jihad mohummad), had a look and this has to be one of the best examples of some of the terrible pricing on itms

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=115445136&s=143460

2 tracks can be bought for $1.69 a piece, the third only available as an album costing $17. they're all comparable length, its not like that one track is the bulk of the album. how could anyone be happy knowing they are paying > $13 for a single track?

 

[winmacguy]

It didn't before , i am suprised this hasn't been more publically announced, especially in the Australian media, Sony carries a lot of big name Australian Artists, they even have a Delta Goodrem playlist already!

Edit: I think it will be announced more publically, they haven't had a chance yet

It has been announced earlier this afternoon here http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,17859926^15306^^nbv^,00.html
The only bit that is still frustrating is that there is still no iTunes NZ store even though in the article it states that
" Sony BMG Australia and New Zealand chairman Denis Handlin welcomed the agreement, which makes the company's catalogue available immediately."
So I dont know what the hold up is. And yes before you all jump in I know us Kiwis just have to register Sydney as our city etc to open an account) we still don't have a specific New Zealand store with all our great local artists like Fat Freddies Drop, Anika Moa, the D4 etc at iTunes prices

I still have dial up since Telecom is still screwing this country blind when it comes to 'broadband' pricing.

 

[winmacguy]

Cheaper than a single ($5) , albums are cheaper than CD's ($20 - $30) .

It's better than the $1.80 that was originally rumoured (by Russell "Kiwi" Crowe).
/QUOTE]
When he does something great we are happy that he was born here but when he throws a phone or 2 then he is DEFINITELY an Aussie with the same kind of social graces that that other Aussie Shane (sex by text) Warne has

 

[Alasta]

It has been announced earlier this afternoon here http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,17859926^15306^^nbv^,00.html
The only bit that is still frustrating is that there is still no iTunes NZ store even though in the article it states that
" Sony BMG Australia and New Zealand chairman Denis Handlin welcomed the agreement, which makes the company's catalogue available immediately."
So I dont know what the hold up is.

There was an article about Renaissance in the business section of the Sunday Star Times, which noted that they have told their investors that the launch of the iTMS in New Zealand is only a matter of time.

Of course, it's hard to say whether Renaissance is privy to information that we're not. Suffice to say, I'm still sceptical as to whether New Zealand will be joining the party at any time in the forseeable future.

 

[sluthy]

How come Tommy Emmanuel still isn't on the Aussie store? (He's on Columbia, part of Sony) He's got one song on it. The US store pretty much has them all. And he's an Aussie (mostly)!

 

[macidiot]

Unless you live in tax-free New Hampshire that is...

oops. I suppose that's the case with Delaware too.

Yeah, I should have clarified that you pay whatever the state tax rate is for the state that the product is shipped to. Unlike many euro-centric countries(I lump Australia into that group), the US does not have a national sales tax.

 

[macidiot]

If you can't, so i assume if you don't live in california, there is no tax. I live in Massachusetts, and iTMS never has tax.

no one in california pays sales tax for itms purchases. Unless they are especially generous and/or stupid.

 

[Chundles]

oops. I suppose that's the case with Delaware too.

Yeah, I should have clarified that you pay whatever the state tax rate is for the state that the product is shipped to. Unlike many euro-centric countries(I lump Australia into that group), the US does not have a national sales tax.

Yeah, you guys in the states seem to have different taxes for every city block, or, in the country, house-to-house.

 

[Nermal]

You're leaving the selective Aussie GST system open for criticism now... what is it, pay tax on water but not on beer?

 

[alexstein]

It sounds like good news overall can't hurt to build out the iTMS library the more labels that are added the greater of a choice you got.

It doesn't really affect me to much since I live in the states but I stay away from the sony/bmg label for awhile as well. I'm still frustrated by the DRM-rootkit.

 

[Norse Son]

Apple and sales tax

actually in america the rule for tax's for online shopping are as follows. If there is a retail store, where you can buy the item in the state you reside, the they are obligated to add tax. If you can't, so i assume if you don't live in california, there is no tax. I live in Massachusetts, and iTMS never has tax.

Actually, I was under the impression that Apple is one of those companies that charges sales tax on all its online sales, as well as phone orders (does anyone still buy from Apple that way?). The only exception is if you live in a sate, such as Oregon, where there is no state sales tax (they get ya with the state income tax).

Of course, I haven't looked that closely at any of my iTMS receipts, but I know they do that for the Apple Store (online)... Guess Apple just wants to pass those costs on to the purchaser - probably makes it "cleaner" for their balance sheets.

 

[Norse Son]

Why certain shows & networks are on iTMS

Somewhat off topic, I suspect we're going to see some new video content soon in the American market. Jerry Bruckheimer ("CSI," "Without a Trace," "Pirates of the Carribean") is the Celebrity Playlist this week.

Fred Armisen of "SNL" had a Celebrity Playlist in mid-December a couple of weeks before "SNL" landed on iTunes.

Is "CSI" just around the corner?

See, there I wonder about shows like CSI. CBS may be the Network broadcasting the show, but that may be the only rights they possess. It would be up to Jerry Bruckheimer Films to sign off on an iTMS distribution deal. That may be why Lost & Desparate Housewives were the first from ABC - Disney produces the shows, doesn't it?

That may, also, explain why the first content from NBC was a tad odd. NBC/Universal, through Universal Television, likely produces the shows that were made available on iTMS. Universal produces Battlestar Galactica, which is broadcast on Sci-Fi Channel, an NBC/Uni. "property". Likewise, I'm sure, with Monk over on USA Network, another NBC/Uni. network. But we don't see Stargate SG-1 from Sci-Fi, because it's an MGM - now Sony - property.

My guess is that this is why we have not seen a "great flood" of popular shows from multiple networks on iTMS, because of having to negotiate the rights/royalties-percentages. That's why shows like West Wing (produced by Warner Bros.?), the Law & Order franchise (Dick Wolf?), CSI (Jerry B.), ER (Warner Bros.) haven't yet become available.

That's likely part of the reason Fox is hesitant, especially with regards to shows it "doesn't own". We'll likely see something like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and/or Angel (Universal or 20th Cent. Fox Tele.?) before top shows like 24 or The O.C. on iTMS.

 

[Norse Son]

Demand an International iTMS Bazaar!

At what point does Apple and the iTMS gain enough "heft" that we will see a global iTMS village? I don't want to be restricted to just what's available on the US iTMS. I want the freedom to browse and buy/download music off the Aussie, UK, French, German, Norwegian, Fill-in-the-Blank-Country's iTMS. Same goes for music videos and television shows.

Isn't it about time that the "i" in iTMS stood for "iNTERNATIONAL"?

And open up the weekly Free Download, too. Give us one choice from any of several genres. For instance, in a given week they would offer you a choice for your free song from a Rock, Pop, New Age, Classical, Alt Rock, Hip Hop, Country, World, or Whatever genres. Not one of each, but a real choice, instead of "getting stuck" with whatever single they choose.

As for the iTMS Mini Store "scandal". Yes, there may be privacy concerns, but the idea is worth exploring. I'd like to have iTMS give me expanded musical options based upon what I listen to and how often certain songs/artists/genres repeat. This would be especially helpful if you were free to shop from any of the international iTMSs - based on the style(s) of music you favor iTMS could "introduce" you to artists in other countries you would never have discovered otherwise. Heck, they wouldn't even have to speak the same language, only the genre & style you enjoyed most.

 

[Chundles]

At what point does Apple and the iTMS gain enough "heft" that we will see a global iTMS village? I don't want to be restricted to just what's available on the US iTMS. I want the freedom to browse and buy/download music off the Aussie, UK, French, German, Norwegian, Fill-in-the-Blank-Country's iTMS. Same goes for music videos and television shows.

Isn't it about time that the "i" in iTMS stood for "iNTERNATIONAL"?

And open up the weekly Free Download, too. Give us one choice from any of several genres. For instance, in a given week they would offer you a choice for your free song from a Rock, Pop, New Age, Classical, Alt Rock, Hip Hop, Country, World, or Whatever genres. Not one of each, but a real choice, instead of "getting stuck" with whatever single they choose.

As for the iTMS Mini Store "scandal". Yes, there may be privacy concerns, but the idea is worth exploring. I'd like to have iTMS give me expanded musical options based upon what I listen to and how often certain songs/artists/genres repeat. This would be especially helpful if you were free to shop from any of the international iTMSs - based on the style(s) of music you favor iTMS could "introduce" you to artists in other countries you would never have discovered otherwise. Heck, they wouldn't even have to speak the same language, only the genre & style you enjoyed most.

It can't be done, record label agreements are binding only in individual countries, there's no way to make a global agreement cause different contract laws apply in different countries.

It would be a great thing but it's just not possible.

 

[Chundles]

You're leaving the selective Aussie GST system open for criticism now... what is it, pay tax on water but not on beer?

Well, we're trying to save water - drought ya know....

Imagine the riots if they taxed beer?

Actually there is a tax on beer.