Apple Launches ITunes in Japan

Apple Computer Inc., which gets a third of its sales from iPod music players, started an iTunes online music store in Japan on Thursday that offered more than 1 million songs, including Rolling Stones recordings that have never been released for downloading on the Internet.

Songs from 15 Japanese record companies will be available for downloading, Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said at a Tokyo news conference that featured a performance by Grammy award-winning singer Beck. Most songs will cost 150 yen ($1.35) each.

Expanding into Japan will help Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple boost sales in a market that accounted for about 6% of the company’s revenue in its latest quarter.

“Apple is a bit late entering the Japan market, but it’s still very much a developing market,” said Motoharu Sone, an analyst with UFJ Tsubasa Securities Co.