TMO Reports – Apple Starts iTunes Countdown Campaign to Half Billion (UPDATE)

Apple Computer announced Tuesday a promotional campaign counting down to half a billion songs sold on its iTunes Music Store (iTMS).

As part of the countdown, Apple plans on giving away an iPod mini and an iTunes gift card for 50 songs to the iTunes customer who purchases the winning song at each 100,000 interval.

“The person who downloads the 500 millionth song will win the grand prize-10 iPods of their choice to share with family and friends, an iTunes gift card for 10,000 songs and an all-expenses paid trip for four to see Coldplay on their world tour,” the company said in a prepared statement.

Since announcing in March that it had broken the 300 million barrier, the company has not officially said in a press release specifically when it had sold 350 million and 400 million songs online, as it has done previously. A countdown clock on the lefthand side of the iTunes Web site shows the company has recently surpassed 481.3 million — less than 19 million from its target.

Apple also announced the availability of two songs recorded live at this past weekend’s Live 8 benefit concerts featuring U2 and Sir Paul McCartney. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “The Long and Winding Road” are available on iTMS and proceeds from the sales will benefit debt relief in Africa.


















































































































iTunes Music Store Key Dates
April 28, 2003 Apple Launches iTunes Music Store
May 6, 2003 One million songs sold on iTMS
May 14, 2003 Two million songs sold on iTMS
June 23, 2003 Five million songs sold on iTMS
September 8, 2003 Ten million songs sold on iTMS
October 16, 2003 Apple & Pepsi launch giveaway of 100 million free songs
October 20, 2003 One million copies of iTunes for Windows downloaded in less than four days
November 6, 2003 1.5 million songs sold on iTMS in one week
December 15, 2003 25 million songs sold on iTMS
March 15, 2004 50 million songs sold on iTMS
April 28, 2004 Over 70 million songs sold on iTMS
May 5, 2004 3.3 million songs sold on iTMS in one week
June 15, 2004 Apple launches iTMS in UK, France Germany
June 23, 2004 iTMS in Europe sells 800,000 songs in first week
July 12, 2004 100 million songs sold on iTMS
August 10, 2004 iTMS catalog tops one million songs
October 14, 2004 150 million songs sold on iTMS
October 26, 2004 Apple launches iTMS in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain
November 30, 2004 Apple launches iTMS in Canada
December 16, 2004 200 million songs sold on iTMS
January 6, 2005 Apple launches iTMS in Ireland
January 24, 2005 250 million songs sold on iTMS
March 2, 2005 300 million songs sold on iTMS
April 13, 2005 350 million songs sold on iTMS
May 10, 2005 Apple launches iTMS in Denmark, Norway, Sweden & Switzerland
May 10, 2005 400 million songs sold on iTMS
July 5, 2005 Apple launches ‘Countdown to Half a Billion Songs’ campaign

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