About bloody time!

So Apple’s finally [announced](http://www.apple.com/au/pr/library/2005/oct/25itmsoz.html)  the [iTunes Music Store](http://www.apple.com/au/itunes/)  here in Australia. Well, good. Sony/BMG is notable by its absence, but Apple’s claimed that there are more than one million tracks in there, plus podcasts from [Auntie,](http://www.abc.net.au/) [SBS](http://www.sbs.com.au/)  and others.

Apple’s also said that they’ve got a huge selection of independent Australian artists. Well. Let’s see. Because I’m looking for them, and because my usual online music purchase site doesn’t have them, I did a search for My Friend the Chocolate Cake. Cool. There’s one CD there.

How about the band that preceded them, Not Drowning, Waving ? One there too.

Let’s go a bit more obscure. I heard a band on the radio the other day called the “Drones”. Any sign of them? Nope. “Fruitbats”? Nothing. Okay. That might be a bit unfair.

How about “George”? They’re reasonably popular. Nope. That’s weird. I wonder if they’re on Sony/BMG. Tex Perkins ? Two of his collaborations, but no solo stuff. The Cruel Sea is represented, but only by one release. They even have songs by our neighbour and a new favourite of mine.