MacRumors.com

Plans for a 2003 launch of the iTunes Music Store were delayed due to the regional licensing requirements - with the same artists potentially signed to different labels from country to country. According to analyst Mark Mulligan, "You can't go to a single place to get all the rights. To be able to deal with them requires physical traveling, a certain amount of negotiations expertise, and you need to be able to speak the native languages."

While Apple remains quiet about the iTunes Music Store Europe, according to recent sources, May 2004 is the European launch target date.