News
Apple working to increase iTunes sales in Japan
Apple is pursuing new ways—including prepaid iTunes cards and free downloads at concerts—to increase sales at the iTunes Music Store in Japan. The company is also targeting consumers who commonly purchase mobile phone downloads. “Apple dominates the market for music downloads in the United States, but its iTunes online music store has about a 5% share in Japan, where most fans download songs onto mobile phones and many people prefer not to buy music online with credit cards,” reports Reuters. In Apple’s favor is the popularity of the iPod. According to BCN, iPods dominate the top nine slots of the latest digital music player sales ranking in Japan.
Share This Article & Win an iTunes Gift Card. Next: iBreath iPod add-on features alcohol breathalyzer
Previous: BluPod iPod add-on offers Caller ID, radio features
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- Enter the CES Exhibits Plus Pass Giveaway today
- Wider distribution boosting iPhone sales in France
- Chinon rolls out AVi portable iPod speaker
- TomTom intros separate Car Kit for iPod touch
- iLounge and MusicSkins announce the Ultimate Design Contest
- Latest edition of iPodweek coming shortly
- Apple planning more iPod touch apps for retail?
- Gameloft, others cutting back on Android development
- Google launches Google News for iPhone, iPod touch
- Magellan releases RoadMate app, Car Kit coming
Recent Reviews
- Electronic Arts Command & Conquer Red Alert
- Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Mini
- iHome iHM79 Rechargeable Mini Speakers
- Elexa Consumer Products iBlink
- Bose SoundDock 10
- Shure SE115m+ Sound Isolating Headset
- Apple Remote (2009)
- Kensington Travel Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone
- Tapulous Metallica Revenge
- Electronic Arts NBA Live by EA Sports
Recent Articles
- The Complete Guide to Using the iTunes Store
- iPhone Gems: Brain Challenge 2, Impossible Quiz, Jeopardy, Trivia Wars + Wheel of Fortune
- The Complete Guide to Album Tagging, Art and Playlists in iTunes
- Ask iLounge 11-13-09
- The Complete Guide to iTunes Audiobooks, Podcasts + iTunes U
- Ask iLounge 11-6-09
- iPhone Gems: Asphalt 5 and Doom Classic
- Ask iLounge 10-30-09
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of Apple TV 3.0
- Ask iLounge 10-23-09
1
Open iTunes Japan to countries outside of Japan. That’ll increase sales.
Posted by Cad on September 11, 2006 at 12:52 PM (PDT)
2
Agreed. However, due to licensing issues, I don’t think Apple can do that. I do see more and more J-pop popping up in the US iTMS. iTunes Japan doesn’t have a great selections in the first place. Even with labels like Avex joining, the majority of their catalog is not in iTunes.
Posted by pata2001 on September 12, 2006 at 12:34 AM (PDT)
3
I buy off the Japanese store all the time, and I agree, it needs to be opened up. Seeing as how media savvy the Japanese are, this would also greatly benefit if some of the networks started putting TV shows up there. Okay, maybe not anime for whatever reasons… But maybe some eating shows or Matthew’s Best Hit TV would be nice… Hell, I’ll take a game show if they offered it.
The biggest problem itunes faces in Japan is that Sony has no music on there at all. I’ve got lots of artists that I’d love to buy off the Japanese store and I can’t because they’re Sony artists.
Posted by dvddesign on September 12, 2006 at 8:07 AM (PDT)