“We’ve Been Waiting For That For A While”
12.06.06 - 12:54pm
“We’ve been waiting for that for a while.” was Brad Priests simple reaction on the New Zealand iTunes Store opening today and perhaps says it best regarding Kiwi iPod owners long wait for the store. New Zealand is now the 22nd country to open an iTunes music store.
Despite popularity in New Zealand, iPod owners, until now, have not had a legal way to download music and currently only music converted to an iPod is legal now that iTunes has been established. Converting music to any other MP3 player is still illegal as there is no viable store. Speaking on the subject last month, Recording Industry Association of New Zealand chief exeutive Campbell Smith told the Herald “It’s wrong for people to steal music. We don’t need to say much more than that. But it makes it easier for [the record industry] when we can say, ‘Please don’t do that, here’s a viable, legal, and safe alternative to stealing.’ Until recently, it’s been hard for us to do that.”
The iTunes store almost opened last year in New zealand, but the talk was that local record companies were concerned about job losses and thus wouldn’t sign. Apple has to make seperate contracts with each recording company in each country. Demand has been strong however, especially with the Australian opening and Kiwi iPod owners finally have their store.
Dave Gibbons, the director of online music distributor Jiggy, said iTunes would give New Zealand Music “…a huge lift. Offering more potential for underground and emerging artists to get noticed on the worldwide market.” New Zealand artists Fat Freddy’s Drop, Bic Runga, the Datsuns and more have signed on to have their music distributed.
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