BMG Japan on Oct. 26 became the latest Japanese label to sign a deal with Apple’s iTunes Music Store.
The Tokyo-based label’s catalog became available to users of the Japanese edition of iTunes the same day, leaving Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) and Warner Music Japan as the only remaining major Japanese record companies yet to ink deals with iTunes. Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) and BMG Japan remain separate entities despite the Sony BMG merger in the rest of the world.
“BMG Japan is delighted to join forces with Apple to make the wealth of our catalog available through the iTunes Store in Japan,” said BMG Japan executive VP Daniel DiCicco in a statement. “BMG’s global superstars and J-pop artists will find pride of place on the iTunes Store connecting with Apple’s community of music fans in Japan. We look forward to continuing to drive BMG Japan’s digital development through this very important relationship.”
Said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes, in a statement: “Top artists, breakthrough pricing, seamless integration with iPod and groundbreaking personal use rights, have made iTunes the No. 1 online music service in Japan. We’re thrilled to bring BMG’s impressive catalog to iTunes so fans in Japan can download and enjoy even more great music.”
