Reports, citing the paper, claim that record companies including Avex Group Holdings, Columbia Music Entertainment and Toshiba-EMI have already signed up to offer their songs to the service. Sony Music Entertainment of Japan, however, is apparently non-committal in agreeing to terms of the contract.
It is being suggested that Apple will provide up to one million titles in an effort to compete with Japanese music downloading sites Label Gate and Mora, which is said to be offering 200,000 songs.
In a further attempt to stamp its presence on the Japanese market, the company may consider providing a low-cost service. Speculative figures of YEN 150 per song will make the service a cheaper alternative to potential rival Mora, which currently charges YEN 210.
