The Amazon MP3 store has
launched in Japan - a market where labels have been holding out on DRM-free music. Japan's iTunes store is still DRM-enabled with Apple's FairPlay DRM system.
So far EMI Music Japan is the only major to license its repertoire for MP3 downloads to Amazon.co.jp.
Earlier this year Masao Morita, Sony Music Entertainment Japan (SMEJ) chairman and representative director, said he would
continue to hold out against DRM-free in Japan, where the digital market is dominated by mobile music.
In March 2010, Napster Japan
shuttered its digital subscription service, claiming that the move to MP3 in other territories made a standalone DRM-enabled service in Japan unworkable. Napster's share of the digital music market in Japan was believed to be tiny.
Japan's Amazon MP3 service is offering Pet Shop Boys "Ultimate" and Norah Jones "...Featuring" for 1,500 yen ($18), Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" for 750 yen ($9) and various Blue Note catalog titles for 700 yen ($8.50).