Music Ally

New research published by comScore claims that nearly 25% of all Japanese internet users accessed the iTunes Store during August - a higher penetration rate than the US, UK, France and Germany.

However, with other stats consistently showing digital sales in Japan are dominated by mobile, comScore’s figures don’t necessarily herald a swing back to online.

Meanwhile, the company says that 40% of Japanese internet users accessed a music website in August - Yahoo Music is the most popular, followed by Sony Connect and Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

Media reports in Japan indicate that the government is considering introducing a private copying levy on sales of portable digital music players and digital hard-disc recorders. It could be up to 100 Yen per device ($0.95), which could see annual payments of more than one billion Yen ($9.5 million). The move would (more…)