iTunes undercuts Napster in UK

British music fans are finally catching up with the US, as Apple launched its popular music download service iTunes in the UK today.

iTunes, which has sold 85 million downloads in the US since launching there in April 2003, offers UK consumers 700,000 records to choose from, with tracks costing 79p a time and albums for £7.99.

Unlike Napster there is no subscription service, and Apple chief Steve Jobs, who was present at the London launch, commented that “subscription was an experiment that has failed.”

OD2 tried yesterday to spoil iTunes UK appearance with the news of their SonicSelector jukebox, which streams songs for just a penny.

Brits have already legally downloaded 500,000 music tracks this year according to the British Phonographic Industry, but the recently launched Napster UK and Apple's iTunes Music Store is expected to boost figures dramatically.

Earlier this month Napster beefed up its online music catalogue by a further 200,000 titles to give music fans access to more than 700,000 tracks, while McDonald’s announced a link up with Sony's music store Connect to offer one free song for every promotional Big Mac meal purchased.