Brian GarnerWhile Apple's iTunes took nearly three years to reach its first billion, it will soon surpass 10 billion songs sold since the online music service was introduced in 2003.
To commemorate this event, Apple has announced a "10 Billion Song Countdown" promotion that will award a $10,000 iTunes gift card to the person who downloads the 10 billionth song.
"iTunes changed the way you buy music, making songs and albums available for download, day or night. Seven years later, we’re about to celebrate our biggest milestone for music, yet — 10 billion songs downloaded," states Apple's website.
Apple celebrated 3 billion songs sold in July of 2007 after four years of sales. Thursday's contest announcement reveals that sales trends since then have greatly increased. iTunes has taken only three years to make its 10 billion song milestone.
Despite this tremendous growth, one music executive revealed Tuesday that digital music sales have slowed in the wake of Apple relaxing pricing rules on iTunes individual songs. Songs were at one point a flat rate of 99 cents a piece. In early 2009, Apple allowed music labels to set prices between $0.69 and $1.29.
Digital album downloads grew 5 percent in December, down from 10 percent in the September quarter and 11 percent in the June quarter. Digital revenue is slowing as well: Warner saw 8 percent growth in the holiday quarter, versus 20 percent a year before.
Amber Neely
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
29 Comments
Despite this tremendous growth, one music executive revealed Tuesday that digital music sales have slowed in the wake of Apple relaxing pricing rules on iTunes individual songs. Songs were at one point a flat rate of 99 cents a piece. In early 2009, Apple allowed music labels to set prices between $0.69 and $1.29.
Digital album downloads grew 5 percent in December, down from 10 percent in the September quarter and 11 percent in the June quarter. Digital revenue is slowing as well: Warner saw 8 percent growth in the holiday quarter, versus 20 percent a year before.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
I wish people would learn basic thinking skills. Remember when reporters were actually intelligent people?
Digital music sales HAVE NOT slowed, and the music executive did not say music sales have slowed. Sales GREW 5%, which is less growth than the quarter before, but it is still growth.
The best thing about this is watching the counter showing songs sold - right now it's about 100 songs per second. There'll probably be times when it's double that or more.
I wish people would learn basic thinking skills. Remember when reporters were actually intelligent people?
Digital music sales HAVE NOT slowed, and the music executive did not say music sales have slowed. Sales GREW 5%, which is less growth than the quarter before, but it is still growth.
Interesting comment. I think the problem is the difficulty in expressing changes in the rate of acceleration using words. The rate of growth went down, but that is more awkward to insert into a sentence. I've thought of a few other ways to express it, nothing flows well.
Interesting comment. I think the problem is the difficulty in expressing changes in the rate of acceleration using words. The rate of growth went down, but that is more awkward to insert into a sentence. I've thought of a few other ways to express it, nothing flows well.
Sure, but awkward phraseology is preferably to factual inaccuracy
Who could ever spend $10000 in music, movies, or apps??? I can understand the iTunes gift card because it is... well, iTunes. But a 10,000 Apple gift card would have been much more useful.