iTunes Music Store Downloads Top 200 Million Songs

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Apple® today announced that music fans have purchased and downloaded more than 200 million songs from the iTunes® Music Store. The 200 millionth song was part of “The Complete U2” and was purchased by Ryan Alekman from Belchertown, MA. iTunes has made it easy to give the gift of music this holiday season with iTunes prepaid cards that are available from retailers like Amazon.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Kroger, RadioShack, 7-Eleven, Target, as well as Apple’s online store and Apple’s retail stores and offer $15 or $25 of music on the iTunes Music Store.

Gift givers can also send iTunes gift certificates in amounts from $10 to $200 by email or regular mail, and can print out these gift certificates in color right on their computer for the perfect last minute stocking stuffer. “iTunes has now sold over 200 million songs, making it the world’s number one online music store by far,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’re thrilled to be making music an even more popular gift this holiday season with iTunes and iPod.”

News source: Apple Press Release

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Barb Bowman is a Windows XP Most Valued Professional (MVP) and has been a regular contributor to the Microsoft Windows XP Expert Zone Community since the launch of Windows XP in 2001. She enjoys sharing her own experiences and insights into today’s leading edge technologies. She is a product development manager for Comcast High-Speed Internet, but her views here are strictly personal.

(11 replies) #1 Galley on 16 Dec 2004 - 16:07

I refuse to purchase any tracks from the iTMS until they offer higher-quality (192Kbps or greater) files. For now, I'll stick with the RealPlayer Music Store.

#1.1 rogerroger on 16 Dec 2004 - 17:47

Yeah, you do that.

#1.2 kellym on 16 Dec 2004 - 17:56

A 128Kbps AAC is equivilent in sound quality to a 192Kbps MP3.

I guess you can switch back to iTMS now... or was your comment just a troll?

#1.3 123_kid on 16 Dec 2004 - 19:37

Real Music Store uses 192kbs AAC but it is not as well tuned as iTunes AAC so a track from the iTMS might very well be as good, if not better than the same track from Real's music store. Then again, it seems like Galley has already make up his mind concerning quality. Here is a listening test concerning various AAC implementations, http://www.rjamorim.com/test/aac128v2/results.html

#1.4 dp123 on 16 Dec 2004 - 19:56

Those tests are testing the encoders of the different AAC encoders in iTunes and other comsumer music apps. This is not a comparison of the files encoded by the studios, which should be even better quality.

#1.5 kairon on 16 Dec 2004 - 20:04

so? apple doesn't care. your only 1 person.

#1.6 twyst3d on 16 Dec 2004 - 20:13

i agree

#1.7 Galley on 17 Dec 2004 - 18:11

The fine folks at Playlist Magazine agree with me about RPMS having superior quality files, and that iTMS needs to "upgrade" to stay competitive.

#1.8 dp123 on 17 Dec 2004 - 18:37

And EVERYONE else agrees your a dumbass for being made at Apple while being a Rhapsody user and a fool for thinking that Apple is in fear of staying competitive.

No other store announces downloads regularly. Not ONE of them could claim 100 million.

#1.9 DeepThought on 17 Dec 2004 - 20:39

The PS2 has more games for it than the XBox or GameCube. Does that make it a better console? Better manufacturing? Better graphics? Better *quality* games?

#1.10 dp123 on 17 Dec 2004 - 21:30

Who said anything about "better" or "quality"? Galley wants to think that the iTMS is losing its ability to be competitive. I think that's ludicrous when no one is close to competing with them. I'm talking pure numbers. We have reasonable predictions fo a half bill to a bill in a year or so's time... Meanwhile, not a single competitor is willing to announce numbers at all, nevermind, 100 million.

#1.11 k28 on 18 Dec 2004 - 13:41

So your ears can hear the different?

#2 webeagle12 on 16 Dec 2004 - 16:07

go iTunes

(1 reply) #3 VikingStorm on 16 Dec 2004 - 16:27

Interesting... so the 200 millionth guy didn't get anything like the 100 millionth...

#3.1 pilawyer on 18 Dec 2004 - 04:08

I don't know what #100,000,000 got, but they were kind enough to give me a $200 gift certificate for Itunes, and are mailing me an Ipod mini. Pretty generous, but of course I'll always take the trip to a U2 show or something like that.

Anyway, thought you guys would want to know that I didn't get stiffed. For some reason Apple didn't publicize it in the press release, but at least they spelled my name right. Ryan Alekman

(1 reply) #4 Jack31081 on 16 Dec 2004 - 16:42

"Nobody's gonna PAY to download music online! No0B5!!"

/pirates everywhere when iTMS was first announced

On another note, the downloader of song #100,000,000 got all kinds of free stuff from Apple and the downloader of #200,000,00 gets...jack squat...that sucks.

#4.1 daftperception on 19 Dec 2004 - 22:48

your a joke man compare that number to the songs traded illegaly I think you will find that 200 million does look like nothing.

(4 replies) #5 ariel on 16 Dec 2004 - 16:59

I never understand why anyone would buy lossy DRM formatted songs. I would just buy the CD.

#5.1 roadwarrior on 16 Dec 2004 - 20:37

Let's see: buy a cd with maybe 2 songs you like and 10 you couldn't care less about for $10-$15 or buy just the two songs you liked from that cd for $2. Yeah, buying the CD makes perfect sense.

#5.2 daveoc64 on 16 Dec 2004 - 21:09

In the UK most albums cost £7.99 on iTunes. They cost much more in shops, which try to make you think that a price closer to £9.99 or even £14.99 is amazing.

#5.3 Quick Reply on 16 Dec 2004 - 23:37

the point of the post your responding to is about sound quality and DRM, not price.

#5.4 daveoc64 on 17 Dec 2004 - 00:42

Its more the fact that it would cost more to buy the CD. If it cost $100 for 1 CD, nobody would get it, even if you could get a better quality. So price does come into it. You need to get the best sound quality, best user rights and price or else it won't work.

(2 replies) #6 dp123 on 16 Dec 2004 - 17:00

Now people expect gifts and giveaways every 100 million? Jesus!

100 million was seen as a major milestone to the studios and Apple. Apple didn't think it could do it in a year, succeeded well enough to decide maybe they could and set it as a goal, they missed it, but accomplished it 2 months later with a major promotion.

Now they've done it again in 6 months. So... in less than 6 months, they'll be at 300. Maybe less than another 4 or 5 month 400... In other words, 100 million is no longer a major milestone... It's ordinary business. Expect 500 million to become the next major milestone around Spring 2006. (Maybe sooner, much sooner ... my prediction is based on a fairly linear rather than exponential increase in sales... if Apple was able to produce more than 4 million iPods this Qtr... Clearly they are starting to sell out.) Maybe a billion by 2006!

Last edited by 9953 on 16 Dec 2004 - 17:24

#6.1 Jack31081 on 16 Dec 2004 - 19:01

Easy their sparky...

I wasn't saying, "Aww man..Apple sucks for not giving him free stuff"...Imagine my statement followed up by Nelson's, "Ha, ha"

I was saying, "Ha, that sucks to be him"

#6.2 pilawyer on 18 Dec 2004 - 04:10

see my other post re: $200 gift certificate and Ipod mini that they are giving me. Ryan Alekman

(2 replies) #7 kravex on 16 Dec 2004 - 17:06

There just praising themselves as there getting worried as more and more companys move into online music (Microsoft, Sony) their share of it will get smaller

#7.1 dp123 on 16 Dec 2004 - 17:27

Give some PROOF!!! Apple was already far outpacing EVERYONE. In October, they were selling about 4 million a week. Two months later they are selling about 4.7 million a week.

Every other store is completely afraid to release ANY download numbers! ANY!

People jump on Apple's numbers for every conceivable reason while ignoring the fact that almost everyone is completely afraid to say how they are doing... Well, by all reckoning, as others enter the market, Apple actually does BETTER, meaning everyone else must be doing MUCH worse if they are carving up a SMALLER piece of the market amongst MORE stores.

#7.2 aristotle-dude on 16 Dec 2004 - 18:19

<sarcasm>
You're right, apple is doomed. They only managed to more than double their record breaking 70 million songs sold in 8 months.

This is terrible, Apple should just give up and admit defeat now in the face of stiff competition from MSN Music.</sarcasm>

(1 reply) #8 Ateoto on 16 Dec 2004 - 17:33

I <3 Apple Computer, Inc.

#8.1 SquareSoft0 on 17 Dec 2004 - 01:00

Apple Computer, Inc. <3 $Your money$

(1 reply) #9 plan-9 on 16 Dec 2004 - 17:39

whats the quality of the files on itunes? i know they use aac but what bitrate?

#9.1 kellym on 16 Dec 2004 - 17:59

They're 128Kbbs but AAC compression is different to MP3.

If you're most familiar with MP3 compression... its most similar to 192Kbbs

(3 replies) #10 GizzyProphet on 16 Dec 2004 - 17:57

AAC at 128 I believe, but don't quote me on that.

The AAC format is much higher quality at 128Kbps than an MP3 at the same rate. WMA's also are lower quality at 128Kbps, but they encode to take up less space, which allows them to be 192Kbps with similar file sizes.

Once again, don't quote me on that.

#10.1 123_kid on 16 Dec 2004 - 19:42

kilobits per second is kilobits per second, regardless of format. A 128kbs WMA is the same size as a 128kbs MP3 or a 128kbs AAC file.

#10.2 kairon on 16 Dec 2004 - 20:06

um no. different codec = different lossy audio format. AAC > MP3 as a lossy codec, therefore, even though the bitrate is lower, its so good you might as well compare it to a 192KBPS MP3.

#10.3 dp123 on 16 Dec 2004 - 23:39

kairon, Gizzy said "WMA's also are lower quality at 128Kbps, but they encode to take up less space", and this makes zero sense. 128 kbps is 128 kbps no matter if its mp3, WMA, or AAC. 123_kid isn't making any statement about quality, he is simply stating that any song encoded at the same bit rate, no matter what the format is, will be the same size.

Last edited by 9953 on 17 Dec 2004 - 00:11

(7 replies) #11 aristotle-dude on 16 Dec 2004 - 18:16

<sarcasm>This should prove beyond doubt that Apple has to open Fairplay or be doomed. Nobody is going to buy a player that works with one store or buy from a store that works with only one player. Nobody!

Please Apple, save yourselves from complete obscurity.</sarcasm>
I'm sure many of you were saying exactly that many months ago, especially after MSN music store was launched and MSFT launched their plays for sure campaign.

You guys should read the financial news. Apple is facing shortages on iPods this season even though they have ramped up production. The stock price is going up again.

Last edited by 18285 on 16 Dec 2004 - 18:23

#11.1 dp123 on 16 Dec 2004 - 18:39

Yeah, dude, that's right. Expect Apple to hit their all time historical high in a matter of days. That's ALL time... a little over 20 years as a publicly traded company. (The previous high was around $130 per share (before a split) in early 2000; they are now at $67.12)

That means Apple is just shy of being a $30 Billion company. Remember when they were valued at $11 Billion and rumored for takeover because of their $5 Billion in cash? That was a year and a half ago.

#11.2 SFalcon on 16 Dec 2004 - 19:52

When they made the Ipod and ITMS compatible with Windows, they significantly increased their target demographic. Anyone could see financial gains being a result. I'd genuinely like to know if as a result of the Ipod's success they've been moving more computers as well.

#11.3 aristotle-dude on 16 Dec 2004 - 20:15

I think there is a halo effect happening now. Some of this is being masked by the growth of the market overall but shipment numbers are up even if the percentage of marketshare is not going up as fast as some people would like. At least Apple's marketshare is not dropping in a growing market.

There are certain sectors where Apple as made a signifcant come back like in defence and scientific research. While the iPod might not have a direct effect in those markets, it does increase mindshare and visibility of the company.

Last edited by 18285 on 16 Dec 2004 - 22:07

#11.4 SFalcon on 16 Dec 2004 - 21:10

Thanks for the info. I can definitely see Ipod users deciding to take a second look at what other things Apple has to offer.

#11.5 dp123 on 16 Dec 2004 - 23:12

Check out this slide show:

http://homepage.mac.com/jomy/AAPL.html

The 5th slide, "Revenue by Product Line" is the relevent one, as well as later Unit Sold slides ... Although the changes are small and their are periodic surges or declines (primarily due to either product shortages or improvements in each individual line), the trend has been a slight decrease in PowerMac and iMac sales with an equivalent increase in PowerBook and iBook sales (Check the "Changing Product Mix Slide" ). In addition, Software and Peripherals & Other HW continue to increase.

I think over the next year, you might see a growth in computer sales, but for much of 2004, Apple has been constrained (in product releases, pricing, and availability) by IBM. I think IBM is finally close to sorting out its fab problems.

What is very clear is that Quarterly Revenue has increased from 1.5 million to nearly 2.5 million without any loss in the computer business in a year, year and a half.

Also, I think people overestimate marketshare... Apple's developer community has grown dramatically over the last 2 years. That is the key. Whatever you think of marketshare, more and more developers are actually being attracted to the Mac line.

#11.6 SquareSoft0 on 17 Dec 2004 - 01:04

Never doubt consumer stupidity.

#11.7 Colonel Sanders on 17 Dec 2004 - 03:51

or consumer stupidity in large groups...aka 90% of operating system market share. I KID!

#12 cswadner on 16 Dec 2004 - 22:41

I dont download any music, but i find iTMS helpful for locating the titles of songs that i do not know. Plus their music video database is nice.

#13 Paperino on 16 Dec 2004 - 23:27

I buy all the album and songs from IMS and for me is really convenient because here in Italy, price of an album in the store is around 22 25€.
9.99€ for an album for me is nothing respect 25€ in the store for the same album.
Unique thing is that i cant find any disco dance albums that i'd want

(1 reply) #14 Quick Reply on 16 Dec 2004 - 23:43

Did anyone notice that of all the songs downloaded, “The Complete U2” just happens to be the 200 millionth. Sounds a bit unlikely that the only Apple backed artist gets this historical number so I have a feeling that they made up which was the 200 millionth, not that it really matters.

#14.1 dp123 on 17 Dec 2004 - 00:16

Yes, your conspiracy theory does not matter.

Considering that the U2 box set is #10 on the Top 10 list (and two other of their albums are #1 and #2, but this track was specifically from the Bo

, and that it contains 446 tracks, I would say that the odds are extremely in favor of a track from it being the 200 millionth song.

By the way, U2 is not the "only Apple backed artist." Do some research.

(1 reply) #15 Phillip on 17 Dec 2004 - 03:28

It took them 15 months to sell the first 100 and then only 5 months to sell the next 100, so are we aiming half a billion songs by the end of 2005?

#15.1 aristotle-dude on 17 Dec 2004 - 05:35

That is what it looks like and what some analysts are predicting.

(4 replies) #16 shichiroji4 on 17 Dec 2004 - 04:31

Apple IS THE FUTURE for online music. The likes of copycats like M$, Real and Sony are just trying to scavange whatever that's leftover from itunes. Pathetic, why do they not try to be innovative for once?

#16.1 amdme3200 on 17 Dec 2004 - 06:20

Your a fool.

#16.2 shichiroji4 on 17 Dec 2004 - 06:50

QUOTE

Not anymore than a moron like you who swears by WMA.

#16.3 amdme3200 on 17 Dec 2004 - 07:36

Jesus learn to write good. Im not the moron I did not swear wma you did.

#16.4 snippet1 on 19 Dec 2004 - 12:54

The likes of copycats like M$, Real and Sony are just trying to scavange whatever that's leftover from itunes. Pathetic, why do they not try to be innovative for once?

I find that a peculiar statement. Did iTunes not emerge long after Real and Microsoft first brought out their comparable products?

#17 nic on 17 Dec 2004 - 05:45

200,000,000 songs downloaded.

So..umm...what? Does that mean that it is being successful or something?

Schichiroji4: wtf? You hate competition or something? Anybody with half a brain knows that competition is always good for the consumer. No need to bash competitors. thank you.

#18 shichiroji4 on 17 Dec 2004 - 08:42

Schichiroji4: wtf? You hate competition or something? Anybody with half a brain knows that competition is always good for the consumer. No need to bash competitors. thank you.

I only like competition that's fair. These copycat leechers simply helped themselves by copying the iTunes concept after they saw it being successfull. Anyone wih half a brain should not support these money diggers that leech off others' hard work.

(5 replies) #19 amdme3200 on 17 Dec 2004 - 10:09

You call creating a online music store hard word? You only like competition that's fair? What are you 2 years old? No one is fair in the business world not Apple not Microsoft open your eyes.

#19.1 Magallanes on 17 Dec 2004 - 12:09

(sarcasm mode ON)
Of course Steve Jobs and Bill Gates don't steal anything from Xerox.
(sarcasm mode OFF)

#19.2 shichiroji4 on 17 Dec 2004 - 14:15

WTF has Apple got to do with Xerox? They don't even do copiers... You cracked or somethin?

#19.3 Jack31081 on 17 Dec 2004 - 14:39

^ obviously needs to read up on his history a bit...

#19.4 DeepThought on 17 Dec 2004 - 20:42

hahahahahaha... nice, Mag.

#19.5 NetRyder on 18 Dec 2004 - 03:12

Well done showing your ignorance, shichiroji4. Every comment that I've seen coming from you on every news post makes it clear you're an attention-deprived troll.

#20 Magallanes on 17 Dec 2004 - 12:06

i think that the music is for free for everyone!

#21 Burly on 17 Dec 2004 - 14:25

coincidental that the song was u2 i think not

#22 Zenith on 18 Dec 2004 - 22:44

If only Apple opened the iTMS in other countries eg Australia...

#23 snippet1 on 19 Dec 2004 - 12:51

iTunes has made it easy to give the gift of music this holiday season

Errm - how does iTunes make it any easier for me to get to the music store? Honestly I think that everyone I know would rather a CD (or a Virgin/Sanity/IN2 Music gift voucher) than an iTunes card.

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