There's an interesting discussion below on the post about Coca-Cola's attempts to set up a music store here. And the oft-repeated question - why hasn't iTunes music store launched here? - is raised again.
Here's all I know. Last year, while researching a story on online music, I spoke to a few folk in the music industry. And two of them independently insisted that the delay to the iTunes music store was being caused by Apple, not by their industry. Yes, they said, the rights issue had been a little complicated on this side of the pond, but there were issues at the Apple end of the line too, which is why IMS wouldn't launch here until this spring. Apple doesn't really talk about this stuff, but in his public pronouncements on the matter Steve Jobs has suggested it's all down to the labels, and digital rights stuff.
From here on in, it's speculation, but I'd suggest three things. First, we know that IMS isn't a big operation in terms of staffing. It's unlikely they could do lots of big projects at once. Maybe the priority was to get a PC version of the software out first in the US, then worry about encoding all that variety of Europop and dealing with the (many) localisation issues for Europe. Second, I think the late arrival of the iPod Mini tells us something. Apple says the April due date for the minis is to stagger demand, and make sure both the US and Europe have enough to go round. But I'm also taking it as a hint IMS will arrive here at the same time, for double the PR love-in. Third, the iPod mini - as revealed here first - is likely to cost a little less - but only a little less - than the planned £199 when it's launched in the UK. Apple still feels the £199 "price point" is about right for the device, especially when it's compared to rival machines' UK pricing.
