iTunes Music and Movies Debut in 16 Latin American Countries, Brazil Gets iTunes Match

Following closely after a previously-rumored launch date of December 8th, Apple has now turned on new iTunes Store music and movie content in 16 Latin American countries. The countries seeing the new iTunes Store content include: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.

In addition, Brazil appears to have gained the notable distinction of being the first country outside of the United States to offer iTunes Match. We received one report over the weekend from a user in the Netherlands who was able to activate iTunes Match, but that functionality appears to have been a very short-lived glitch.

brazil itunes match
iTunes Match subscription page in Brazilian iTunes Store

MacMagazine.com.br has a running commentary [Google translation] documenting the situation as the various components of iTunes music and movie purchases and iTunes Match are going live in Brazil.

As had been rumored for the Brazilian iTunes Store, prices are currently in U.S. dollars, requiring users to fund their accounts with international credit cards. Pricing in local currencies for the Latin American countries is said to be coming at some point in the future, perhaps within six months.

Update: Apple has published a press release announcing the new additions.

Launching with a catalog of over 20 million songs, the iTunes Store in Brazil features local artists including Ivete Sangalo, Marisa Monte and the digital debut of Roberto Carlos’ catalog, available to purchase and download along with a wide range of international artists including the Beatles, Rihanna, Coldplay and thousands more. With most songs priced at 99 cents and most albums at $9.99, the iTunes Store in Brazil is the best way for iPad, iPhone, iPod, Mac and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music online.

Top Rated Comments

fabian9 Avatar
160 months ago
I don't understand why it can't launch in every country at once. It is just software stuff...

licensing and the inability of the music industry to embrace innovation.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tjanssen1990 Avatar
160 months ago
Look north

What, no love for Canada?

I am really looking forward to iTunes Match if/when it ever arrives.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
psalazarc Avatar
160 months ago
Woah, I'm astonished... :eek:
I just can't believe the iTunes Music Store launched in Chile. I know it may not look like a big deal to many, but it is for me. Finally, for Jobs sake. It seems like Apple is finally taking Latin America seriously. Or beginning to. :apple:

:p
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Schmitty11 Avatar
160 months ago
Very interesting choice. I would've bet Canada or some part of Europe would be first.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
X5-452 Avatar
160 months ago
Interesting choice. I wonder what factors influenced the decision to allow Brazil access to the iTunes Match program over other countries.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SeaFox Avatar
160 months ago
I don't understand why it can't launch in every country at once. It is just software stuff...
Yes, that's a point people have been trying to make for decades now. DVD region encoding and game console staggered launches being two glaring examples. It's called "the RIAA/MPAA doesn't know how to admit they're Dinosaurs and still think a location-limited business model is sustainable in a world where you can get FedEx to bring you something from anywhere in the world in two days."

Edit: Oyeah: Welcome Brazilians!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

reset password request iphone

Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests

Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
maxresdefault

Apple to Launch New iPad Pro and iPad Air Models in May

Thursday March 28, 2024 11:07 am PDT by
Apple will introduce new iPad Pro and iPad Air models in early May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman previously suggested the new iPads would come out in March, and then April, but the timeline has been pushed back once again. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple is working on updates to both the iPad Pro and iPad Air models. The iPad Pro models will...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Purple

iOS 18: What to Expect From 'Biggest' Update in iPhone's History

Wednesday March 27, 2024 11:10 am PDT by
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. "The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone's software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade," wrote Gurman, in a r...
maxresdefault

Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14

Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
apple maps 3d feature

Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18

Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

Apple Releases Revised Versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 With Updated Build Number

Wednesday March 27, 2024 5:59 am PDT by
Apple on late Tuesday released revised versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 with an updated build number of 21E237, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The updates previously had a build number of 21E236. The revised updates are available for all iPhone and iPad models that are compatible with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, but they can only be installed via the Finder app on macOS...
applephilschiller

Apple's Phil Schiller Works 80 Hours a Week Overseeing App Store

Wednesday March 27, 2024 2:03 pm PDT by
With the App Store and app ecosystem undergoing major changes in the European Union, The Wall Street Journal today shared a profile on App Store chief Phil Schiller, who is responsible for the App Store. Though Schiller transitioned from marketing chief to "Apple Fellow" in 2020 to take a step back from Apple and spend more time on personal projects and friends, he is reportedly working...