New Zealand’s first legal music site DigiRAMA has been attracting a steady volume of sign-ups since it launched Monday (Nov. 1), according to its proprietors. More than 100 subscribers have signed up each day in its first week, says the service’s managing director Shaun Davis, who set up the site with his brother Garth.
Davis says sales of albums and tracks were “above target.” New Zealand has a population of about 4 million, and household Internet penetration of 46%, according to the IFPI.
The download service launched with 30,000 tracks licensed from Warner Music and independents such as Festival Mushroom Records, Global Routes and WildSide Records. Titles are prices from NZ$1.99 ($1.38)-$2.49 ($1.72).
Davis plans to sign up more tracks from major and New Zealand independents in the next few months.
DigiRAMA was set up in part, says Davis, because New Zealand consumers cannot yet buy downloads from Apple Computer’s iTunes Music Store unless they have an American-based credit card. Apple has not yet announced plans to introduce iTunes in the Australasian region, although the Australian operation has been negotiating with local labels over the past year.
