Possible iTunes Music Store launching in China?

For being Apple's second largest market, China's iTunes store only sells apps. Compared to India, where sales of the iPhone are not as immense, it's iTunes store offers music and movies for sale.

In the past two years we have seen Apple pushing and launching its music service to parts of Africa, Middle East, India, Eastern Europe, South East Asia, and Latin America.


Will China be the next market iTunes music will launch next? The rumors started last February of this year in Chinese websites due to image (displayed above) offering the iTunes cards. The image mentions of the ability of purchasing apps, music and other items on the iTunes store. This image caused some people to speculate of the possibility of a Chinese iTunes music store.

As Apple is preparing to debut its new products and services this coming fall, will the iTunes music store in China be introduced in the same time? As more rumors and components leaks to the new budget iPhone come out it seems probable that Apple is trying to link the music store to the new budget product to have a far more reaching client base.

Yet there is a chance iTunes Music Store China may not become a reality. One of of the reasons why is due to the Chinese government's role in media and trying to filter some products, especially foreign content reaching the Chinese masses.


Whatever Apple may bring this fall, be it a Chinese iTunes store, I will be waiting excitedly for the new products, services and iOS coming from them this fall.

Underrated Turkish Pop Music

As everybody is jumping the K-pop wagon I decided to board on to Turkish pop music's. I really believe that Turkish music is totally underrated. It may be heard in the Middle East and some parts of Europe but it has not had greater outreach in the world since Tarkan's Samarik. 

The beauty of Turkish pop music is that it is heavy in pop and techno elements. There are times that the music does not feel Middle Eastern at all.  Yet there are other times when the music still has a feeling of being Middle Eastern by adding instruments that are found in Middle Eastern music. Another thing that gives Turkish pop an edge is the Turkish language. The Turkish language has a sort of boldness that makes the music unique. Yet the language can be bold yet soft if need be like SezenAksu's Geri Dön and Emre Aydin's Soğuk Odalar.

Here is  a little guide in what is hitting the radio stations in Turkey. Yatcaz Kalcaz by Gülsen is the top hit currently in the airwaves. Demet Akalın is another artist that is popular with songs such as Türkan and Giderli Şarkılar. If you are more into a mellower groove I recommend Sıla’s Yoruldum. If you want more Turkish flair there is Seninle Bozdum by Gökhan Keser.

To further delve into Turkish pop I recommend listening to Power Turk. It is a radio station that plays Turkey's current hits. You can obtain Power Turk's app at the App store. The radio station is also available on TuneIn radio.

P.S. All of these tracks, except for Seninle Buzdum are available in the US iTunes store.

iTunes Gift Cards from Russia!

Apple opened an iTunes music store in Russia few months ago. The store's currency is in Russian rubles. Apple tends to sell iTunes cards in countries where the store is in the local currency, and in this case Russia.

I have found a vendor online that sells iTunes cards from Russia. The website is igroshop.com and they sell cards worth 500 rubles (priced at 19.20 US dollars) and 1000 rubles (priced at 38.79). The only issue is if you are buying from outside Russia you need to send the money via money transfer such as MoneyGram or Western Union. Once the vendor is paid he will send you the code via email. The customer service is great. If you don't mind going through the hurdles of sending it via money transfer than I really recommend IgroShop. 

In a ballad-y mood? Try Italian

In Mexico, Italians are known for their ballads. But not all of the Italian acts reach the other side of the Atlantic. There are some Italians singers that will blow you socks off but as of yet have not conquered the Americas.

Noemi

In my opinion, the best Italian ballad singer is Noemi. As much as I hate comparing people, Noemi is like an Italian Adele. She is also a singer-songwriter. My first encounter with Noemi was with her song Per tutta la vita (Lifelong). This song exemplifies her incredible voice. Another song that I really like from Noemi is Sono solo parole (They are only words). The last song that I have bought is Se non è amore (That is not love). 

Another incredible singer from Italy is Alessandra Amoroso. She came into the music scene by winning a talent show. Alessandra mostly sings pop ballads. One my favorite songs from this great singer is Stupida (Stupid). The song revolves around how stupid the person is and not really knowing who they really are. Another song that I really like is Senza nuvole (Without clouds). If I think of Italians ballads, Senza nuvole comes first to mind.

Jovanotti

The ballads are not only dominated by women. One artists that comes into mind is Jovanotti. Even thought he delves into other genres, he also sings some pop ballads. An example of this is his song named Tutto l'amore che ho (All the love that I have). 

Gianluca Grignani is another artist that comes to mind. His first album, Destinazione Paradiso was launched in 1995. His song, La mia storia tra le dita (My story between your fingers) from his first album was in hit in Mexico but in Spanish as Mi Historia Entre Tus Dedos. But one of his latest hits, Natura umana (Human Nature), has not really hit the American airwaves.

These are just a few of the artists that are really rockin' Italy. Give them a try and if possible try to find translations of some of these songs to get a better grasp of what they are really are about or just to figure its essence. 

By clicking on the name of the songs, it will take you to a youtube video of each song so you can take a listen to them. Most of these songs are available on iTunes. I believe that this will be my last post until after Christmas, so Merry Christmas.  Enjoy your holidays.

Bollywood and its Music Today

In an interesting way Bollywood is creating music with a perfect mix of  pop/dance/electronic music and traditional Indian. Even with the western elements Bollywood is still creating music distinctly Indian.


One such great example is Tumhi Ho Bandhu. This song is part of the soundtrack of the Hindi movie Cocktail. It is sung by Neeraj Shridhar & Kavita Seth and has dance components. This song is available on iTunes and if you want to sample it by clicking here it will take you to the video on Youtube.

Another song that is great to dance to is Tu Mohabbat Hai remix sung by Atif Aslam & Monali Thakur. This song is also part to the compilation of the Bollywood movie Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya. Click here to view the video.

If you are into a more mellow music I recommend Ishaqzaade. It is a pop ballad sung by Javed Ali & Shreya  Ghoshal. This song is also part of a Bollywood movie with the same title as the song. Just click here listen to the song.

I recommend these songs if you have never given a try to Hindi music. As the world becomes more interconnected we are becoming world citizens so give these songs a listen to. Enjoy music hunting!

Rumor Has It! Apple's October 23rd Event...

Apple is launching another event this 23rd of October. Rumors has been swarming that the new iPad Mini will be presented along with some new Macs. There has been other rumors talking precisely of other interesting things that iTunes has in store for us.

With the new iPad Mini Apple is going into direct competition with Amazon's Kindles. Apple is going to try to reinforce it sales of books in its stores by expanding books for purchase in other countries not yet available. Coming along with the iPad mini there is talk of a possible launch of sales of books in Latin America.

Other important rumors revolving iTunes is possible music store launches in Turkey, Russia, South Africa and other countries. In South Africa's case a statement was made by Yoel Kenan, CEO of  Africori (an African music distributor) that iTunes Music Store will be available soon in South Africa. There has been news flying around that Turkey will possibly have its own music store also. What has been more prevalent are rumors that Russia will have an iTunes Music Store coming this quarter. Now, it's my opinion that along with the iPad Mini launch on October 23rd these and other countries will have it's own iTunes store in which music is available for purchase.

Another rumor involving iTunes, to be more precise, iTunes Japan is the possible availability of Sony's Japanese Music Catalog in the Japanese iTunes Music Store. Sony has never made available its Japanese music on iTunes due to the fact that Sony saw (sees?) Apple as a rival to its business. These rumors revolve around Tetsuya Komuro's comments on twitter, who is a musician who worked under Sony's label in Japan.

The only way to know if these rumors are really true is to wait for the 23rd of October Apple event! One thing is for certain is iTunes 11's launch.

Swedish Electro-pop Anyone?

What is hitting the airways recently in Sweden is Alina Devecerski. This singer comes from Stockholm. Before starting her solo career she was a song writer and her songs went to other artists. Now she has launched several singles from her upcoming album Marathon which will come out on November 19. 

Her single Flytta på dej (Move) has been in the top charts in Norway, Denmark and obviously Sweden. The song has a mix of electronica, pop, and dance. The song is really catchy and great to dance to. The vocals may a sound a little bit weird but it is still enticing. I highly recommend it. If you want to see the translated lyrics in English just click here so see them. 

Alina has another single called Ikväll Skiter Jag I Allt (Tonight I Shit In Everything). This song runs in the same style as Flytta  på dej using electronic beats with dance and pop. 

Her songs are currently available in iTunes Music Stores in Europe, Latin America, Asia (except Japan), and Oceania. These songs will soon be available in Canada and the US (my prediction is it will be available when Marathon launches in November 19 yet I am unsure if they will be available in Japan).