Get Better Gear!

Premier Sponsors

TechRestore

Other World Computing

Top 5 Free Apps

Release Date: August 05, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: May 22, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: August 29, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: March 27, 2009
Release Date: August 07, 2009

iTunes New Music Releases

Release Date: September 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: September 20, 2009
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: August 25, 2009

Top 5 Paid Apps

Release Date: April 22, 2009
StickWars $0.99
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Genre: Games
Bloons $0.99
Release Date: April 05, 2009
Genre: Games

Discover New Music

  • Abnormal Anonymous

    • 8 out of 10
    • Congo Norvell
    • Very few albums manage to capture snapshots of a quality of life in the manner that Congo Norvell's sophomore record, "Abnormals Anonymous," does.

      Comparisons to the Velvet Underground are

  • Modern Lovers

    • 10 out of 10
    • Modern Lovers
    • This timeless masterpiece is little known, but it has inspired almost as many bands as The Modern Lovers' own inspiration -- and only slightly better known -- The Velvet Underground & Nico.

  • Now Here Is Nowhere

    • 10 out of 10
    • Secret Machines
    • The Secret Machines' inaugural album, Now Here is Nowhere is both old and new in its sonic assault. The trio's surprisingly big sound evokes Pink Floyd (without ever sounding like any Pink

  • Live at the Magic Bag, Ferndale, MI

    • 6 out of 10
    • Supersuckers
    • Man, there's nothing like good, old fashioned, rock and roll... add a bit of industry resentment to that with a double-shot of cynicism, and you get one of the best "new" rock bands going. This album
  • Album Of The Year

    • 10 out of 10
    • Brother Love
    • Killer grooves, catchy riffs, edgy vocals with oh-so-just-right layered harmonies, and a drive that will move even YOU out of your chair, Brother Love's initial release is what rock and roll should be

Reader Specials

Visit Deals On The Web for the best deals on all consumer electronics, iPods, and more!

News

iTunes Music Store Launches in Japan for Mac & Windows

Apple Computer announced Wednesday the launch of the iTunes Music Store in Japan, the world's second biggest music market. The Japanese version of the iTMS launched with one million songs priced at either ¥150 (US$1.35) or ¥200 ($1.80) each.

Apple touted the fact that the store is launching with local songs from globe and Ulfuls, exclusives from Def Tech, Crazy Ken Band, Chara, Little Creatures, Chie Ayado and The Complete B'z digital box set. The company said that it will feature exclusives from U2, Jack Johnson and Björk, and that more than 10,000 audiobooks are available, including works by Japanese authors.

The Japanese version of the iTMS will also feature podcasts, a feature added to the music store in its other markets in iTunes 4.9.

As with the North American and European iTunes Music Stores, Japanese customers will be required to use a credit card for song downloads, though Apple will also be offering iTunes Music Cards for cash purchases. Those cards will be available at Sofmap, Yamada, BIC Camera, Amazon Japan, Kojima, Yodobashi Camera as well as through the Apple Store itself.

Japan has long been one of Apple's most important markets, and the iPod has performed well, even though Japan is Sony's home turf. It is the iTunes Music Store, however, that has been one of the main catalysts for the growth in iPod sales, and the launch of a Japanese version of the iTMS has been seen as crucial for Apple.

The iron-clad stranglehold the Japanese recording industry has on that country's market has long been thought the principal reason behind the long wait for a Japanese iTMS. In Japan, the labels control the vast majority of the acts, what music those acts record, and in some cases, where that music gets played. Those labels, and all of the other players involved, have wanted as big a piece of Apple's iTMS pie as possible.

In addition, there were also concerns that CD sales would be eroded by easily-available digital downloads, the same kinds of concerns that US labels had before the launch of the iTMS in this market.

All of those obstacles have been overcome, however, as demonstrated by today's launch. Apple has heretofore sold more than 500 million songs around the world, and the Japanese launch of the iTMS greatly expands the company's digital reach.

Post Your Comments

  Remember Me  Forgot your password?

Not a member? Register now. You can post comments without logging in, but they'll show up as a "guest" post.

Commenting is not available in this section entry.