by , 8:35 AM EDT, July 5th, 2005
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 |