How does one go about downloading Italian songs when one doesn't live in Italy?

So, I've run into a bit of a brick wall with my friends (okay, they're not really my friends) at iTunes, so I'm hoping that one of you tech-savvy people out there can help me figure out a way around this.

See, I've been listening to Radio Italia online for some time now, and recently have heard several songs that I'd like to download. When I went to iTunes and looked for them, I wasn't surprised when they weren't in the catalog. I was able to find them, however, if I switched to the iTunes Italia store. Everything I wanted was there - it was like Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one, and I was feeling quite giddy and pleased with myself. Until, that is, I tried to actually purchase the first song. As soon as I put in my password I was redirected back to the good ole iTunes USA store, where (as mentioned) nothing I wanted could be found.

I contacted iTunes to ask why I couldn't download something from the Italia store. It makes no sense to me why this should be an issue - I'm willing to pay for the songs (more, in fact, than the US rate, as the prices there are in Euros), and it seems iTunes has them in some online catalog somewhere. Why should it matter where I live? Oh, but it does, the iTunes person tells me. He doesn't say why, only that I can't do what I want to do and I should request that what I want to download be added to the US store. Yeah, I'm not sure they'd work too quickly on my "everything in the iTunes Italia store" request, do you?

I asked my local Italian community for help, and got pointed to this site - again, looks promising, no? I found many (not all) of the songs I wanted to download, but in order to register I need to live in Italy. Or at least know more about the post codes which are associated with certain towns and regions than I currently do in order to fill out the registration form. I sent them an email a couple weeks ago - in Italian - asking how I might register because I really want to send them money and buy songs from their website, but I haven't heard bupkis from them.

So, I turn now to you. Anyone have any brilliant ideas for me? I'm thinking I'd like to avoid P2P systems, as I don't particularly relish the idea of the RIAA knocking down my door and swiping my laptop (or any nasty bugs which might come from the P2P stuff), and am perfectly willing (happy, in fact!) to pay for the songs. I await your brilliant suggestions, and thank you in advance.

Buying Singles

There used to be a time when I'd buy a single song at the record store (back when record stores still sold records), and now with the advent of iTunes I'm back in the habit of doing that again. It no longer involves leaving my house, of course, but the act of buying a single song is fun, and I'm glad to be back in the habit again.

I don't do it often - perhaps one a month on average - and usually it comes in waves. Since I'm getting worse and worse about posting anything on this blog, I thought I'd share some of the singles I've purchased recently:

• Silversun Pickups "Lazy Eye"
• Muse "Starlight"
• Zero 7 "In the Waiting Line"
• The Balls "Ladylike"
• Justin Timberlake "What Goes Around Comes Around"
• Shiny Toy Guns "Le Disko"

I've got a running list of songs I've heard that I like and want to download, and when I get in the mood I just start clicking. In addition to those moods, I also am a habitual downloader of the free single of the week, which has resulted in some new favorite songs. Two that come to mind are "Wound Up" by Office and "New Shoes" by Paolo Nutini. Usually these single downloads don't result in me purchasing an entire CD, but sometimes they do. Either way, it's a fun way to expand my music collection and know that I'm getting exactly what I want.

(Oh, and don't say anything about that Justin Timberlake song, either. I've since heard most of the whole album, and it's a damned fine one. I'm the last person who would ordinarily be willing to admit liking Timberlake, but the CD is great. No snickering allowed until you've heard it yourself. So there.)