One Million Downloads for iTunes Japan in 4 Days

Launched just a four days ago iTunes Music Store has already done what its competetion put together does in a month. More than 1 million songs have been purchased and downloaded in last four days, says Apple.

“iTunes has become Japan’s number one online music store in just four days,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO in the press release. “iTunes has sold twice as many songs in just four days as all the other online music services in Japan sell in one month.”

Apple has not signed a deal with Sony Corp.’s music division, which has some of the most popular Japanese singers and bands under its label. Sony Music Entertainment says it’s still in talks with Apple.

Sony has been struggling to maintain profits and sales in its core electronics division in recent years. One of its biggest fumbles was falling behind the iPod in portable players with hard drives. The Tokyo-based electronics and entertainment company has powerful competing CD and MD businesses.

The iTunes service accounts for 82 percent of all legally downloaded music in the United States. Apple has sold 21.8 million iPods worldwide since it went on sale in October 2001, and has sold more than 500 million songs through its iTunes Music Store.

Purchase and download of songs from the iTunes Music Store for Mac or Windows requires a valid credit card with a billing address in the country of purchase. Music fans in Japan have the option to use iTunes Music Cards for cash purchases on the iTunes Music Store. iTunes Music Cards are available at Sofmap, Yamada, BIC Camera, Amazon Japan, Kojima, Yodobashi Camera as well as through the online Apple Store and Apple’s retail stores.