Apple (News - Alert) is growing, or perhaps expanding is the better term. The tech giant is announcing the opening of iTunes Stores in 56 countries, including Russia, India, Turkey, South Africa and Indonesia.

Russia was also chosen to hold a celebration event today.

In four of the new countries – Russia, Turkey, India and Indonesia – Apple’s iTunes store will also offer access to movies as well as music. The new openings will double the number of countries with access to iTunes.

The new iTunes stores will feature not only popular music from western nations, but local popular artists as well.

“The iTunes Store features local artists including Elka in Russia, Sezen Aksu in Turkey, AR Rahman in India, and Zahara in South Africa, international artists including The Beatles, Taylor Swift (News - Alert) and Coldplay, and world-renowned classical musicians including Lang Lang, Yo Yo Ma and Yuja Wang,” said Apple in a statement.

In total, customers in the nations that now have access to iTunes Stores will find over 20 million songs available to them.

Pricing varies enormously across regions, TG Daily is reporting, largely because of the different deals that Apple's struck with content providers. In Russia, too, it appears that iTunes won't be running at full capacity, as Apple hasn't yet reached an agreement with all intellectual property owners.

Last week, Apple released a new, completely redesigned version of its iTunes software. It has also revamped the iTunes Store so that it now appears the same across all devices.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO Miami 2013, Jan 29- Feb. 1 in Miami, Florida.  Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO (News - Alert). Follow us on Twitter.