iTunes Music Store Downloads Top 150 Million Songs; iTunes gift cards now at Best Buy Stores

CUPERTINO, CA. (Apple/ www.apple.com) - Apple today announced that music fans have purchased and downloaded more than 150 million songs from the iTunes Music Store, marking another major milestone for the online music business. The 150 millionth song was "Ex-Factor" by Lauryn Hill and was purchased by Beth Santisteven from Ignacio, Colorado. iTunes users are now downloading more than 4 million songs per week, a rate of over 200 million songs per year. Apple also announced the immediate availability of iTunes gift cards at all Best Buy stores.
"Crossing 150 million downloads marks another major milestone for the online music business," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of Applications.
"We're looking forward to bringing iTunes to even more music lovers when we launch our pan-EU music store soon."

The iTunes Music Store is available in the US, UK, France and Germany, has Apple's legendary ease-of-use, pioneering features, personal use rights and breakthrough pricing, and is the best way for PC and Mac users to legally discover, purchase and download music online. The iTunes Music Store gives users the ability to play songs on up to five personal computers, burn a song onto CDs an unlimited number of times, burn the same playlist up to seven times and listen to their music on an unlimited number of iPods.

Apple offers a complete solution for discovering, buying, managing and listening to digital music anywhere with the unbeatable combination of iTunes, iPod and AirPort Express with AirTunes which lets music lovers wirelessly stream music from their PC or Mac to a stereo located in any room in their home.

In addition to Best Buy, iTunes gift cards are available at all Target stores, Apple retail stores and online at https://www.itunes.com

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.