iTunes Music Store Coming to Japan in 2005

Apple reportedly will launch its iTunes Music Store in Japan in March 2005 with about 100,000 songs that emphasize Japanese music, this according to a Japanese newspaper. The Nihon Keizai reported the news Thursday; Apple Japan declined comment. Apple has sold about 500,000 iPods in Japan and holds about half the market for digital players in that country. [Ed. Note: A Reuters story on the subject incorrectly states Apple has sold 60 million iPods worldwide -- that figure is closer to 6 million.]

Apple expanded the iTunes Music Store this summer to a number of European countries and plans to launch the store in Canada by the end of this month.