Apple’s 'cloud' song matching service has gone live in New Zealand, with some user issues reported.

Electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi is seeing improving sales activity in the New Zealand market and plans to open more stores after posting a bumper first half profit, it was announced today.

The Australian company reported record half year profits for the six months ending December 31 of $A76 million up 29% on the previous year’s results of $A59 million.

Sales were up 23% from $A1.26 billion to $1.5 billion. JB Hi-Fi chief executive Richard Uechtritz said sales in December were solid across “almost all categories”.

Punk's granddaddy Iggy Pop has 2,612 fans on Orcon’s Facebook page to promote its next generation broadband campaign.

The campaign launched last week and is seeking eight Kiwi musicians to audition for Mr Pop’s remake of his classic song “The Passenger”. The remake is part of the internet provider’s campaign to market its new network.

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* Steve!
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* iPod Classic lives, and gets hard drive upgrade to 160GB.
* iPod Touch now ranges up to 64GB
* iTunes 9 introduces Genius Mixes, lets content be shared among 5 home PCs; works with iPhone OS 3.1 to let you organise iPhone apps in iTunes
* Playlists can now be shared via Facebook or Twitter

New Zealand’s largest independent music retailer Real Groovy has been saved from receivership by an eleventh hour bailout partnership with Ferrit’s general manager.

Founders Chris Hart and Marty O’Donnell have formed a new company, Fonografo, with long time friend and Ferrit general manager, Ralph Brayham.

The new company is buying back the stock and assets of the Auckland store from receivers Corporate Finance.

JB Hi-Fi is looking to take advantage of the recessionary environment to expand its business in 2009.

Chief executive Richard Uechtritz says that his company has struggled with all the traditional start-up problems but synergies are starting to come together and he thinks 2009 will be a big year for the brand.

“Everything’s been up this year – margins, sales, morale,” he says.