Aus iTunes Store
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- toe_knee
iTunes music store set to open
By Jano Gibson
April 26, 2005 - 3:54PMAustralians will be able to legally download music to iPod players as early as Thursday after Russell Crowe revealed the launch date of Apple's iTunes digital music store in Australia.
The launch date has been a tightly-kept secret up until now, with Apple and record labels refusing to divulge exactly when the digital music store will open in Australia.
The US version of iTunes, which is only available to US credit card holders, has sold more than 300 million songs at a cost of $1.27 per track.
But actor, and occasional-rocker, Russell Crowe told 2UE's John Laws that iTunes Australia would cost $1.80 per track, a Queensland newspaper reports.
Apple Australia's spokeswoman, Martha Raupp, refused to answer questions relating to iTunes.
"It hasn't been announced and we don't comment on things that haven't been announced," she said.
iTunes is the only site where iPod users can legally download songs.
But other digital music sites in Australia, such as Soundbuzz's Creative Music Store, who cater solely for Windows-based mp3 players, charge $1.49 per track.
"Our primary focus is to set prices that ensure our product is always better value and more convenient to purchase than physical product," Soundbuzz CEO, Sudhanshu Sarronwala, said.
A number of people posting messages on the AppleTalk Australia website, a discussion board for Apple Macintosh users, said they would prefer to buy CDs if the cost of iTunes's tracks is set at $1.80.
"That would be suicide. They need to be $15 max otherwise people will just go to Big W and buy them (CDs)," one person said.
The cost of tracks is largely determined by record companies, Mr Sarronwala said.
"Pricing is largely set by the recording industry and applies across the board to all digital music companies. The industry sets the wholesale prices, and from that retailers set their retail prices, meaning variations between the key players are not generally that dramatic," he said.
Crowe said songs he had recorded since the break-up of his band, 30 Odd Foot of Grunt, would be available when iTunes launches.
The global digital music market was worth more than $422 million in 2004 and is expected to double in value this year, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
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they can fuck right off :)
- slappy0
haha Ill just buy the cd if tracks cost more than a dollar.
awsome to see the words "big W" on NT haha
- eficks0
doesnt look like it has been opened today to AU.
- toe_knee0
More news on it
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Will they or won't Apple launch the hotly awaited iTunes download in Australia tomorrow?
The company is not saying, but iPod fans have discovered a backdoor route into Apple's digital music store.
And the cost of each track is $1.69, slightly cheaper than predicted by Russell Crowe, who said iTunes would launch in Australia tomorrow at a cost of $1.80 per track.
The loophole was posted on the AppleTalk Australia website and dozens of people have been leaving messages listing the many songs they have been able to download.
Buyers have received emails confirming their membership to "The iTunes Music Store Team, Apple Computer Australia Pty Ltd."
smh.com.au was able to download a Daft Punk song today, while Victorian Chris Howard bought a John Mayer track - No Such Thing - last night at the iTunes site.
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- toe_knee0
Its like they all gossip on the phone about it
"Victorian Chris Howard bought this"
and
"Russell Crowe said that"go make some fooken movies you chinwaggers
:)
- slappy0
I cant believe russell lyed to us like that...
- designerror0
he's been in hollywood too long
- boiconet0
Hasn't Russel made President of Australia yet?
- designerror0
i think Mel will be first choice in that job interview
- boiconet0
Mel can be Arch-Bishop or something (Forgive religious ignorance, I don't actually know what one is but it sounds impressive).