News
Over half a billion songs sold from iTunes Music Store
Less than two weeks since Apple announced its countdown to half a billion songs sweepstakes, the 500 millionth song has been purchased and downloaded from the iTunes Music Store.
While Apple has yet to release an official announcement telling who the winning customer is, or what track they purchased, the company has posted a large banner on apple.com announcing the milestone. “Thanks to all the music fans in 19 countries for making the iTunes Music Store the #1 music download store,” the banner reads.
The winning downloader will receive 10 iPods, a “gold” iTunes gift card for 10,000 free songs and an all-expenses paid trip for four to see Coldplay in concert. Those that bought winning songs at each 100,000 interval will get an iPod mini and an a 50-song iTunes gift card.
Update: Apple has now posted a complete list of winners and their purchased song.
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1
For anyone curious, the counter that Apple had on their website was only approximate. I had two different computes up on their main page at the same time and they were about 5,000 songs apart.
Posted by AaronS on July 17, 2005 at 4:30 PM (PDT)
2
I wonder how long until Apple fixes all the typo. errors on their site now:
Setting a new milestone for the digital music business, the iTunes Music Store has sold more than 430 million songs,
The counter which says “We’re on our way to 500,000,000 downloads,” and the counter says 500,000,000+...
Kudos to Apple.
Posted by Justin Horne on July 17, 2005 at 5:16 PM (PDT)
3
Congratulations Apple and iTunes! I really wanted to win this, I’m sure I’m not alone, but iTunes wouldn’t launch on my computer. Anyways, next step, 1 billion!
Posted by Maxman on July 17, 2005 at 5:44 PM (PDT)
4
Actually it says who won:
“Congratulations Amy Greer of Lafayette, Indiana, the 500 Millionth Song Grand Prize Winner”
Posted by ipodman715 on July 17, 2005 at 6:25 PM (PDT)
5
She won from a one-song album! What are the chances :|
Posted by johnnyb on July 17, 2005 at 8:36 PM (PDT)
6
10,000 free poor-quality tracks from the iTMS. I’d definitely be eBaying that “golden ticket”. I probably wouldn’t go see Coldplay perform if they were in my backyard, but a free trip would be nice.
Posted by Galley in Greenville, SC on July 17, 2005 at 9:18 PM (PDT)
7
Jörg Lünsmann, you may have something here
Wouldn’t that be great if all color screen iPods could be suddenly transformed into video iPods with a new Apple firmware update, for free? With the video output cable you would be able to play music videos and TV program on any TVs!
Steve jobs said that watching movies on a small screen is not a mainstream thing, but he also said that there won’t be a video iPod until they can get legal content…
Now after releasing the “magical” firmware update Jobs could say “We didn’t ship the color iPod with the video playing feature at first because we didn’t have any legal content to propose, and the insanely great new video controls took us time to design and perfect”
This “magical” event could kick-start interest in buying videos online to play on TV using an iPod, or on the screen when on the go. Then Apple could release a real video-focussed portable device.
Posted by Element on July 18, 2005 at 4:06 AM (PDT)
8
Video screens on iPods? NO WAY! Screen is way too small for it to be useful. The most believable item in the story is the one being dismissed and that is iTunes delivery of TV shows. People will pay $2 for a show they missed even when competing against FREE downloads. People will pay the $2 as a convenience charge of not having to search or spend hours on a corrupt download.
But video will NEVER exist on iPod’s current form.
Posted by Frank Z on July 18, 2005 at 8:28 AM (PDT)
9
I see video on iPod as a small market, but I wouldn’t say zero. It could be a cool extra to have.
Remember:
* iPods have TV output already
* Selling video content for Apple (which they’ve already begun) would be mainly for computer viewing. iPod viewing, if it happens, would be entirely secondary.
Posted by Nagromme on July 18, 2005 at 12:05 PM (PDT)