ITunes Music Store

The iTunes Music Store (iTMS) is an online music service run by Apple Computer with its iTunes application. Introduced on April 28, 2003, the store, which uses DRM restrictions, has since been a dominant online music service and has proven the viability of online music sales.

Promotions

On Super Bowl Sunday, February 1, 2004, Apple launched a promotion with Pepsi in which they gave away 100 million songs, through tokens on selected soft drink bottle caps. Fortunately for Apple, Pepsi failed to properly distribute the bottles to major metropolitan areas until only weeks before the promotion ended, despite a one-month extension of the deadline by Apple. The promotion, however, was repeated beginning January 31, 2005, with 300 million songs available, and an iPod mini given away every hour.

Related Topics:
February 1 - 2004 - Pepsi - January 31 - 2005 - IPod mini

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On July 1, 2004, Apple announced that, starting with the sale of the 95 millionth song, an iPod would be given away to the buyer of each 100 thousandth song, for a total of 50 iPods. The buyer of the 100 millionth song would receive a PowerBook, iPod, and $10,000 gift certificate to the iTunes Music Store.

Related Topics:
July 1 - 2004 - IPod - PowerBook

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Ten days later, on July 11, Apple announced that 100 million songs had been sold through the iTunes Music Store. The 100 millionth song was titled "Somersault (Dangermouse Remix)" by Zero 7, purchased by Kevin Britten of Hays, Kansas. He then received a phone call from Steve Jobs personally, who offered his congratulations, as well as a 40GB 3rd Generation iPod laser-engraved with a message of thanks.

Related Topics:
July 11 - Dangermouse - Zero 7 - Hays, Kansas - Steve Jobs - IPod

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Inspired by Pepsi's marketing success with iTunes giveaways, Coca-Cola has also partnered with 7-Eleven to give away a free iTunes song with every 32 oz. Slurpee frozen beverage until July 31, 2005. Songs can be redeemed until August 31, 2005 by entering a code printed on the Slurpee cup into the iTunes Music Store application. Coca-Cola did this in spite of having its own music store, myCokeMusic.com, that competes with the iTunes Music Store in Europe.

Related Topics:
Coca-Cola - 7-Eleven - Slurpee - July 31 - 2005 - August 31 - MyCokeMusic.com

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On July 5 2005 Apple announced that they were counting down to half a billion songs. The buyer of every 100 thousandth song up to 500 million would receive an iPod mini and a 50-song gift card. The grand prize for the person who downloads the 500 millionth song was 10 iPods of their choice, a 10,000-song gift card, 10 50-song gift cards and 4 tickets to the Coldplay world tour. Twelve days later, on July 17, Apple announced that 500 million songs had been sold through the iTunes Music Store. The 500 millionth song, purchased by Amy Greer of Lafayette, Indiana, was "Mississippi Girl" by Faith Hill.

Related Topics:
July 5 - 2005 - IPod mini - Coldplay - July 17 - Lafayette, Indiana - Faith Hill

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On July 28 2005, Apple and Gap (Gap Press Release) announced a promotion to award iTunes music downloads to Gap customers that try one of Gap jeans. From August 8 to August 31 2005, each customer who tried on any pair of Gap jeans would receive a free download of their favorite song from the iTunes Music Store.

Related Topics:
July 28 - 2005 - August 8 - August 31

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