Apple to Launch iTunes Music Store in Japan in August

Apple Computer Inc. plans to begin its iTunes Music Store online music downloading service in Japan in early August, offering the largest collection among Japanese music downloading sites, with 500,000 to 1 million domestic and foreign songs. The service is expected to provide songs at a lower price point than other domestic online sites or buying CDs pressed in Japan, with a price of around 150 yen per song. Major Japanese record companies, including Toshiba-EMI Ltd. and Columbia Music Entertainment Inc., are expected to provide songs to iTunes Music Store upon its launch, although Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. may be absent in the beginning due to contract negotiations.

Key Takeaways:

• Apple's iTunes Music Store will offer the largest collection of domestic and foreign songs in Japan, with 500,000 to 1 million songs available.
• The service will offer songs at a lower price point than other domestic online sites or buying CDs pressed in Japan, with a price of around 150 yen per song.
• Major Japanese record companies, including Toshiba-EMI Ltd. and Columbia Music Entertainment Inc., are expected to provide songs to iTunes Music Store upon its launch.
• Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. may be absent from the launch due to contract negotiations.
• The service will allow users to download songs and transfer them to portable digital music players such as Apple's iPod.
• iTunes Music Store has been operating in the U.S. since April 2003 and has expanded to 19 countries, selling over 400 million songs.

Statistics:

• 500,000 to 1 million domestic and foreign songs will be available on the iTunes Music Store in Japan.
• The service will offer songs at a price of around 150 yen per song.
• Over 400 million songs have been sold through iTunes Music Store in 19 countries.
• Apple started its music downloading service in the U.S. in April 2003.

Sources:

• The Nihon Keizai Shimbun
• Nikkei