TOKYO, August 8, 2005 – Apple today announced that music fans in Japan have purchased and downloaded more than one million songs from the iTunes Music Store since its launch just four days ago. With over 90 percent of the songs priced at just ¥150 per song, the iTunes Music Store in Japan features a mix of local favorites and popular international artists, with Japanese artists claiming both the number one song (Def Tech) and the number one album (Ulfuls).
“iTunes has become Japan’s number one online music store in just four days,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iTunes has sold twice as many songs in just four days as all the other online music services in Japan sell in one month.”
The iTunes Music Store in Japan gives music fans the same innovative features, breakthrough pricing, seamless integration with iPod and groundbreaking personal use rights that have made iTunes the number one online music service in the world, with over 500 million songs purchased and downloaded. The iTunes Music Store in Japan features local favorites including iTunes Originals from globe and Ulfuls, exclusives from Def Tech, Crazy Ken Band, Chara, Little Creatures, Chie Ayado and The Complete B’z digital box set. Other iTunes exclusives include music from international artists such as U2, Jack Johnson and Bjork, and over 10,000 audiobooks, including works by Japanese authors.
With iTunes 4.9, listeners have everything they need to discover, subscribe, manage and listen to Podcasts built right in. The iTunes Music Store in Japan includes a wide variety of Japanese-language Podcasts, such as InterFM, Radio SOTOKOTO and Radio Nikkei.
Pricing & Availability
iTunes for Mac and Windows includes the iTunes Music Store and is available as a free download immediately from www.apple.com/jp/itunes. Purchase and download of songs from the iTunes Music Store for Mac or Windows requires a valid credit card with a billing address in the country of purchase. Music fans in Japan have the option to use iTunes Music Cards for cash purchases on the iTunes Music Store. iTunes Music Cards are available at Sofmap, Yamada, BIC Camera, Amazon Japan, Kojima, Yodobashi Camera as well as through the Apple Store (www.apple.com) and Apple’s retail stores.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.
