I had completed a software update earlier today, so that didn't fix it for me. But after I read your post that you had access to your account, I went and tried mine. And what do you know... my account worked and I was able to purchase the music that I wanted.
In the end I would still like to know when the site is down, so I know just to come back to iTunes and try it later. Non of this worry that there is something wrong with my personal account.
Message was edited by: Corynn_L