Apple launches iTunes Music Store in Australia
Apple today launched the revolutionary iTunes Music Store in Australia, giving Australian music fans the same innovative features, breakthrough pricing and seamless integration with iPod that have made iTunes the world's most popular music jukebox and online music store.
The iTunes Music Store is now available in 21 countries and features the most music of any digital music store in Australia with over one million songs from major and independent record labels and over 1,000 music videos.
Priced at just $1.69 per song, $3.39 per video and with most albums at $16.99 including GST, the iTunes Music Store in Australia is the best way for Mac and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music online.
News at Apple Australia
Apple iTMS Homepage Australia
Full Version: iTunes Music Store Launches in Australia
About time. 
I neither have an iPod nor download music, so this really isn't much of an issue for me, but it'll be good for all the others here.
I neither have an iPod nor download music, so this really isn't much of an issue for me, but it'll be good for all the others here.
Technically this is the only way to legally get music onto an iPod in Australia. We have no fair use legislation, so it's illegal to convert copyrighted material from one format to another.
@kl33per
I didn't know this.
So if it's not on iTunes, Bigpond Music, Ninemsn Music or Destra then it's illegal to have it on your mp3 player in Australia. Even if you have the CD.
For anyone who's interested, here is an informative read.
I didn't know this.
So if it's not on iTunes, Bigpond Music, Ninemsn Music or Destra then it's illegal to have it on your mp3 player in Australia. Even if you have the CD.
For anyone who's interested, here is an informative read.
Quite correct. Taking it further, because an iPod can't deal with protected WMA, iTunes (and Destra for non-big-four-labels stuff) is the only legal way to get music onto your iPod in Australia. Thus you can't use Bigpond Music or NineMSN Music with your iPod, because even burning it to CD and re-ripping is illegal in Australia.
It seems Australian's are also getting ripped off like Europeans. According to XE.com, USD$0.99 = AUS$1.33, however Australians pay considerably more per song at AUS$1.69. It is still cheaper however than the average price of a new CD, which is worth about $25-30. Considering the quality loss though, plus the DRM restrictions, one would have to wonder how online music stores are going to be successful in the long term.
I can't care less, really.
I'd rather shell out the $25 for a CD than pay $17 for a low quality, DRM protected WMA that can only be played on select players. I won't even consider online music stores until they start offering up unprotected, lossless files - which I don't see happening.
I'd rather shell out the $25 for a CD than pay $17 for a low quality, DRM protected WMA that can only be played on select players. I won't even consider online music stores until they start offering up unprotected, lossless files - which I don't see happening.
<rant>
Plus there are some fairly cleap online stores for CDs here, dirtcheapcds.com.au sells most new releases for $15, older CDs for $10. The range depends on what they've got in stock at the time (so it's no good if you want something specific), but there are other online places too where you can end up with something under $20. I get the feeling that the target market for iTunes Australia is not too far removed from the people who download Crazy Frog ringtones for their mobile. Chewing-gum level music consumers with a bit of money, less sense on how to spend it and little or no ear for music. There seem to be a lot of them here.
</rant>
Plus there are some fairly cleap online stores for CDs here, dirtcheapcds.com.au sells most new releases for $15, older CDs for $10. The range depends on what they've got in stock at the time (so it's no good if you want something specific), but there are other online places too where you can end up with something under $20. I get the feeling that the target market for iTunes Australia is not too far removed from the people who download Crazy Frog ringtones for their mobile. Chewing-gum level music consumers with a bit of money, less sense on how to spend it and little or no ear for music. There seem to be a lot of them here.
</rant>
QUOTE(Insolent @ Nov 2 2005, 03:54 PM)
I can't care less, really.
I'd rather shell out the $25 for a CD than pay $17 for a low quality, DRM protected WMA that can only be played on select players. I won't even consider online music stores until they start offering up unprotected, lossless files - which I don't see happening.
I'd rather shell out the $25 for a CD than pay $17 for a low quality, DRM protected WMA that can only be played on select players. I won't even consider online music stores until they start offering up unprotected, lossless files - which I don't see happening.
But would iPod owners really buy up at $13.50 per album? That's about what they should be worth with the exchange rate.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.