Friday, February 24, 2006

iTunes Downloads Hit 1 Billion Songs

Apple Computer is reporting that it has delivered over 1 billion downloads from its iTunes Music Store. Apple said that it now has over 3,500 music videos, 35,000 podcasts, 16,000 audiobooks, and more than two million songs in its catalog. As part of the milestone, Apple said that it awarded the 1 billionth downloader, Alex Ostrovsky, with a new iMac, 10 iPods, and a $10,000 gift card, plus establishing a scholarship at Juilliard School of music in his name. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry reported in January that digital music sales hit a record $1.1 billion in 2005, with iTunes accounting for over 80 percent of non-ringtone sales.

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