Apple’s ITunes Music Store Sells 100 Millionth Song
CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — It took nearly three months longer than Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL) chief executive Steve Jobs predicted but Apple’s iTunes Music Store has sold its 100 millionth song, the company said Monday.
When the market-leading music download store launched April 28, 2003, a confident Jobs forecast that iTunes would sell 100 million songs within a year. However, the service reported selling about 70 million songs by the time it reached its first anniversary.
In a statement Monday, Jobs called the sales mark a “historic milestone.” Apple also marked the occasion with a contest, awarding the buyer of the 100 millionth song – a Kansas man – a free Apple computer, an iPod digital music player and 10,000 free downloads.
Downloads purchased from iTunes customers in the United States, France, United Kingdom and Germany were used to calculate total sales, but the company excluded downloads given away as part of iTunes promotions, Apple spokeswoman Liz Einbinder said.
Analyst Phil Leigh of Inside Digital Media said the sale benchmark was significant.
“Compared to any of the other download services or subscription services, they’ve done far more than anyone else,” Leigh said.
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