Just days after releasing a new version of
iTunes, Apple has announced an expansion of its iTunes Store into Russia and
dozens of other countries, nearly doubling the number of countries in which it
has a presence.
In addition to Russia, the popular music
platform has landed in Turkey, India, South Africa, and 52 other countries,
Apple announced today. The addition of the 56 countries brings the total number
of countries with iTunes Store access to 119.
With the launch, Apple touted the selection
of local and international music tailored to its new audiences.
"The iTunes Store features local
artists including Elka in Russia, Sezen Aksu in Turkey, AR Rahman in India, and
Zahara in South Africa, international artists including The Beatles, Taylor
Swift and Coldplay, and world-renowned classical musicians including Lang Lang,
Yo Yo Ma and Yuja Wang," the company said in a statement.
Russia, in particular, will prove one of
Apple's greatest challenges in the music sector. While the home of
Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, and Pussy Riot has several legitimate download
services, is also home to rampant piracy. The Intellectual Property Alliance,
an organization dedicated to eliminating piracy, has placed Russia on its
"priority watch list" as a major pirate.
Despite the challenges posed by piracy,
Russia could be a revenue goldmine for Apple -- if it can persuade Russians to
purchase rather than pirate.
After a monthlong delay, Apple last week
released iTunes 11. The latest version of its popular music software features a
visual redesign that takes a cue or two from Apple's iOS software, with a focus
on large album covers that can expand to show you songs -- both in your
library, and other tracks from Apple's iTunes Music Store.
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