14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has formally announced that the 10 Billion Songs countdown has stopped, with someone (yet to be named) having downloaded the 10 billionth track just yesterday evening. The company announced two weeks ago that a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card would be awarded to the person downloading the 10 billionth song on iTunes.
Earlier this month, Apple announced that there were two ways to enter the “10 Billionth Song” promotion. The simplest way was to buy a song from iTunes. By downloading a song from the iTunes Store, the customer will be automatically entered into the Promotion. A non-purchase method was also available. Customers could visit http://www.apple.com/itunes/10-billion-song-countdown/entryform/, and fully complete an online entry, including their name, complete mailing address, telephone number, and birth date. Participants would then hit the “Submit” button, once their online entry was complete.
Now, Apple is proud to announce that, “The countdown is over; someone downloaded the 10 billionth song on iTunes!” “Check back to find out who the lucky winner is. In the meantime, browse this selection of the most popular songs, as determined by iTunes customers. We’ve gathered the most-downloaded songs and albums since the iTunes Store launched in 2003.” the Mac maker says.
Nine years into its existence, the iTunes Store features everything from music and movies, to podcasts, applications and even books. Last year, around the time Apple reduced the pricing for iTunes content with the launch of the third-generation iPod touch, the App Store celebrated its 1 billionth app download with much fanfare. Apple is preparing to unleash the iBookstore, which will offer exclusive content to future iPad owners. The company is expected to celebrate iBook downloads in a similar manner, once a self-imposed milestone is reached.
Visit this address to check out the most downloaded iTunes songs of all time.