Digital tunes a hit in Australia - but not here

Hell's bells. Digital music is making a bigger bang than AC/DC across the Tasman. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, music lovers are still waiting for Apple's iTunes Music Store to open.

It's been a year since the Australian iTunes site launched and sales of digital music have increased significantly.

And this week the Australian Recording Industry Association created a new singles chart compiled by sales of over-the-counter music and digital downloads.

However, not only is New Zealand without iTunes, we don't have an official digital music chart either because the market for legal music downloads is so small.

There are smaller alternatives to iTunes in New Zealand, including local sites Digirama, Coketunes and Amplifier.

But the Apple site is the world leader in its field.

Currently New Zealand's top 40 singles are compiled based on an equal split between retail sales and radio play. The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) says a local combined singles chart could be launched next year and it is not necessarily dependent on whether iTunes comes to New Zealand.

RIANZ chief executive Campbell Smith says the smaller download sites are growing and it is talking to traditional music retailers, as well as online and mobile companies, about what form the new chart will take.

"But when we're looking at adding new factors to it there needs to be volume, and from what we've seen in other territories, with iTunes, it does tend to be a leader in the expansion of the digital arena."

But don't hold your breath. Apple will not say when, or even if, iTunes will be available here.

It is believed negotiations between Apple and some record companies are one reason for the hold up.

Smith can't wait.

"I'd like it to be here and I'd like it to be soon. But iTunes is a business and it has deals it needs to work out with the record companies and hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later."