Several sources are reporting that iTunes Japan is set to launch in August. Most of them can be traced back to an article in today’s Nihon Keizai Shimbun, stating that the participants include Columbia Music Entertainment, Avex Group Holdings, Toshiba EMI, and other major Japanese record companies. To no one’s surprise, Sony Music Entertainment has yet to get on board. At 150 yen per track, however, iTunes is sure to give the 210 yen per track ATRAC3 services a run for their money. Or, more likely, it will blow them out the water entirely.
Update: Impress Watch apparently asked Apple Japan about this directly, and their response was “there is nothing [in the Nikkei article] that is true.” Avex and Toshiba EMI also both said nothing had been finalized, and even Sony Music Entertainment said they’re still negotiating with Apple. It will all probably come true eventually, but it seems Nikkei may have jumped the gun for once. Here’s the article in Japanese.
