Apple Celebrates 500 Million Downloads Through The iTunes Service

We already knew that Apple has really hit the jackpot with its iPod and iTunes Music Store, the combination of these two being one of the most successful products the company has ever launched. And this success is confirmed once again, because Apple today announced that music fans have purchased and downloaded more than half a billion songs from the iTunes Music Store.

The 500 millionth song, Faith Hill's "Mississippi Girl," was purchased yesterday by Amy Greer from Lafayette, Indiana, and as the grand prize winner she will receive 10 iPods to share with family and friends, an iTunes gift card for 10,000 songs and an all-expenses paid trip for four to see Coldplay on their world tour, according to a press release from Apple.

"Just over two years ago, we sold our first song. Yesterday, we sold our half billionth song. WOW!" said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "As we cross this major milestone, we couldn't be more excited about the future of digital music, iTunes and the iPod."

"Steve and Apple's impact with their complete thought of iPod and iTunes will be looked back upon as important as any instrument or device ever created for the music industry," said Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records.

With Apple's legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as integrated Podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, seamless integration with iPod and groundbreaking personal use rights, the iTunes Music Store is the best way for Mac and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music online. The iTunes Music Store features more than 1.5 million songs from the major music companies and over 1,000 independent record labels, 10,000 audiobooks, gift certificates and exclusive music not found anywhere else online.

Apple recently launched iTunes 4.9 with everything users need to discover, subscribe, manage and listen to Podcasts built right in. iTunes customers have subscribed to more than five million Podcasts from the iTunes Podcast Directory which now features over 6,000 free audio programs, making it one of the largest Podcast directories in the world.