Feb 12
iTunes Music Store Europe facing more delays?
2004 at 01.52 am posted by Veerle Pieters
According to the rumor mill Apple is still facing some heavy red tape in bringing the Music Store over to Europe. The original target was to get it in place in the first half of 2004. The European Union wants us to believe that Europe is one unity but this proves them more then wrong. So what’s the hold up? Well, Apple wants a European-wide deal to provide a consistent and uniform Music Store. However, regional licensing fees and distribution of those fees remain to be an obstacle. In other words everybody wants to fill their pockets and nobody sees the greater good.
In the mean time they’re still losing money. A few months ago Apple past the 30 Million mark in the US alone, so are those decision makers really that blind? It should be clear that regional stores are not the answer here. A lot of songs in the US store are interesting for me, like all those great songs from the 80’s. I love the 80’s btw. A direct result of all this is that the launch-goal may fall as far back as August 2004… but this remains a moving target. I am ready to buy and I think a lot of others too but this is becoming a joke isn’t it?
7served
1
It’s hard to grasp how the music industry is making so much noise about how their revenues are going down and the piracy problems associated with it without making bold steps themselves to lead the revolution.
They should be jumping over themselves to get on the iTunes Store bandwagon. The formula is proven to be a success. (and not listen to that Napster guy)
ps: still have to see the first signs on union in the EU
2
Sintra: My thoughts exactly! The union looks goods on paper but in reality it is a whole other story. I’ve read somewhere on the web that the Napster guy already left the building ;-) Just don’t remember where at the moment.
3
I think there is still too much money going round in ‘Music’, Musicians are quite pleased with the ITMS, so they say. My guess is that nation-wide the music lobby is pointing out the loss of VAT and so more to politicians, and ... oooh they’re scared about that, believe me !
The longer the music industry can postpone the intro of ITMS in Europe the more they can drain out of our pockets. It’s the only reason why P-2-P networks keep making sense. ( and they’re growing in Europe and Asia, because of that ! )
BTW, it’s the M.industries’ only way they can convince the musicians to ‘protect ‘ their work with all kinds of expensive ‘copy’protection on cd’s. The musicworld would be too easy with ITMS ;-)
4
Give it time! You’ ll c!
5
Roger; Good point you have there. I’m sure that who gets money and who don’t is one of the largest stumbling blocks here. People like Marcel Heymans of IFPI aren’t also a great contribution.
This guy keeps on saying that he doesn’t believe in download stores. He believes that lowering the VAT from 21% to 6% is the clue here. That’s the guy who represent the artist here in Belgium. If Steve has to talk to this guy, he will not believe what he is hearing ;-)
6
When is , for instance Dido helped out better: with a lowering of our st.. VAT system? or when you and I just go to the ITMS and pay and download it fully legal?
I came across the new Ricky Lee Jones Cd today, went to the shop to buy it and they looked at me as if I came from Mars. ( OK my hair was a little weired this morning ) I would have downloaded it ( if we would only have ITMS ;-) ) Guys like MH are up in their ivory tower, with exactly no feeling about what’s happening out there.
BTW:He should talk to SJ, no give him a swift kick and let him talk to the kids/youngsters/downloaders/all those music lovers out there ! He’ll change his mind once he did that!
7
btw, just came across this ...
Deacon Blue live doing it their own way here
( I’m sorry for the mess, code is not my thing :-) )