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iTunes store lags behind 100 million song target

updated 03:40 pm EST, Mon March 15, 2004

iTunes sales target

More than 50 million songs have been bought from Apple's iTunes music store, but the number is that Apple set itself last year, observes BBC News. It launched its online music store for Mac users in April 2003 and expanded it to Windows users in October. Apple is the leading player in online music but it faces increasing competition from others seeking a slice of the market for digital downloads. The iTunes store is currently only available in the U.S., but will be available internationally later this year.

by MacNN Staff

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iKenny
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2002

0

03/15, 04:04pm | report spam | close Reply |
Wow that's fair.

It's really not fair to Apple that after they totally guess on how many songs they will have sold by April 28, since they're the first ones to do this, they're shot down because they've failed to meet one mark. If it was Napster or another store that is following Apple's lead, it might have been more fair, but to hit on Apple because they weren't even sure!

Rincewind
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2000

0

03/15, 04:12pm | report spam | close Reply |
Uh huh...

Um... 50 million songs *without* counting songs that are being redeemed for free... of which there are 100 million out there. I think it's a little early to be saying that Apple won't reach their own mark...

motti
Mac Enthusiast

Joined: Jan 2001

0

03/15, 04:18pm | report spam | close Reply |
later this year...

Yeah, sure, "will be available internationally later this year.." My guess is, it won't be available until the end of 2006, as will the iPhoto Store and a localized (and thus useful) Sherlock.

faizon
Banned

Joined: Mar 2004

0

03/15, 04:19pm | report spam | close Reply |
evr1 knows

U set expectations to beat them . Comon apple .. u should have set your goal at 5 songs sold and 10 million IPODs by the end of the year.

I dont hear much from the mini ipod bashers anymore ???

TideSwimmer
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2001

0

03/15, 04:24pm | report spam | close Reply |
Bizarre interpretation

First point: it�s not April 28 yet.

Second point: The current total doesn�t include the Pepsi promotion totals.

Third point: What is the point of this story? Here is what it says. ITMS has ONLY sold 50 million songs, it ONLY sells 2.5 million songs a week. It ONLY is the market leader by millions and millions of songs in all categories.

Conclusion: ITMS and Apple should get out of business and return all the money to stockholders and cede the market to WMA, which although behind by millions and millions of songs, has somehow been granted the winner�s trophy.

In other words, more of the endless FUD.

I�m a reporter for a newspaper. Here�s how it works:
10 a.m. - Editor hears some buzz about �digital music or something - something about songs online.�

10:05 a.m. - Editor asks reporter to turn something around by 2 p.m.

10:10 a.m. - Reporter, who is already way overworked, fumes a bit, then does �research� by going to Microsoft website. (Note: unless the reporter is me.)

2 p.m. - deadline met with meaningless story, based on nothing.

Dame Scribble
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2004

0

03/15, 04:32pm | report spam | close Reply |
But who really care...

if Apple made it's self-determined quota yet? I, for one, just bought a 15 gig iPod, and I am mad I waited this long!
And as a poster said, it's too early to fall into the numbers hype. Surely Apple will have close to those numbers next month, or at the least, will be closer to it then than the company is now.
Apple is #1 in the digital music/player market. THAT'S the only stat I care about:)
-.d

ghost_flash
Professional Poster

Joined: Feb 2003

0

03/15, 04:34pm | report spam | close Reply |
So

That is how MacNN works when it reports all this c*** about Apple. They do it quite often though. Why is that? Those Microsoft advertisements (banners) couldn't have anything to do with it could it?

Bonedaddy
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2004

0

03/15, 04:40pm | report spam | close Reply |
Get your facts straight

Good Lord!!!!
This story screwed up on every site

Bonedaddy
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2004

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03/15, 04:42pm | report spam | close Reply |
Lets have a moment

of silence for our good friend RIPE.

RIP RIPE.

MacNN Pulled the plug.

porieux
Baninated

Joined: Mar 2001

0

03/15, 04:49pm | report spam | close Reply |
Pepsi

When did Apple say they weren't including the Pepsi downloads in that 100 Million figure? Oh that's right, they didn't....

klinux
Senior User

Joined: Jul 2002

0

03/15, 05:18pm | report spam | close Reply |
Totally guess?

How do you know Apple totally guessed? How do you know the numbers have not been derives at through complex forecasting by their finance department?

Forget Napster - this has nothing to do with it. Napster could have sold 10 songs or 10 billion songs for all I care but when Apple put out a goal, it should meet it or put out some more conservative goals so it could trump it that syaing not only did they beat their goal, the killed it. This just makes Apple look not necessarily bad but not just in as good of a light.

klinux
Senior User

Joined: Jul 2002

0

03/15, 05:21pm | report spam | close Reply |
To Mr.TideSwimmer

First, it does not matter that it is not April 28th yet. Apple is not going to meet its goal.

Second, when Steve said he was going to sell 100 million songs, he did not include those Pepsi songs to begin with.

Third, I am glad you are the ONLY reporter out there that who is not overworked and does proper research. Poor Pogue is going to be destroyed when I inform him of this.

TideSwimmer
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2001

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03/15, 05:26pm | report spam | close Reply |
Once again

It is not April 28 yet. Therefore, pointless to say they have not met their goal.

This story is MEANINGLESS at this time. Meaningless, meaning it means nothing.

Second, Jobs clearly meant that the goal would be met with the integration of the Pepsi promotion numbers. Since those are not yet available, once again this �lagging behind� angle to the story is without meaning.

It means nothing.

It�s meaninglesss.

It should not have been published. It�s just made up nothingness.

HCRefugee
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2003

0

03/15, 05:50pm | report spam | close Reply |
a sad day indeed...

Apple only sells 45 million more songs than its nearest competitor "Gorogster.com" News of Apple's imminent decline cannot be far behind. Hear it first on cnet.

SomeToast
Senior User

Joined: Jan 1999

0

03/15, 06:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
racing

"With over 50 million songs already downloaded and an additional 2.5 million songs being downloaded every week, it's increasingly difficult to imagine others ever catching up with iTunes," said Mr Jobs.

But existing services such as Napster and MusicMatch are racing to catch up.

Well yes, I guess they'd have to be then.

TideSwimmer
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2001

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03/15, 06:17pm | report spam | close Reply |
To Klinux

When Steve Jobs made the 100 million claim, I think it was very clear that he meant to include the Pepsi totals. He even phrased it something along the lines of, �The reason I can say this is because...� He then announced the partnership with Pepsi.

To believe otherwise is to believe that Jobs intended to move all those songs while simultaneously �giving away� (having Pepsi pick up the tab) a potential additional 100 million songs. Not a very likely scenario.

Apple marked the tally for this 50 million mark on last Thursday, saying that they are currently moving 2.5 million songs a week. From last Thursday to April 28 is nearly seven more weeks. Continuing at the same pace puts Apple�s totals at 67.5 million songs.

Let�s say a third of the Pepsi caps are redeemed. That�s 33 million, which easily hits the 100 million downloads goal.

Lets say only a quarter of the Pepsi caps are redeemed. Apple still moved more than 92.5 million songs in one year. Short of 100 million, true, but I�d call that a success by any measure. So they were a little short. They are moving in unknown territory. I�d say their forecast was pretty uncanny, considering.

In either case, the fact remains: to take today�s announcement and deliberately slant it with this �sky is falling� angle is just plain sloppy journalism. There was nothing to justify their taking this approach, but they did so anyway.

iKenny
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2002

0

03/15, 07:33pm | report spam | close Reply |
CNET story updated

I was pleased to see that the CNET article was updated about 2 hours ago to remove the negative slant. The title is now just about iTunes topping 50 million and doesn't include the remark about this being "far behind" the sales mark; it just says that there was a mark to hit, not that they seem to be failing to hit it.

njfuzzy
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2001

0

03/15, 08:32pm | report spam | close Reply |
Tell the BBC

This article is irresponsible. Let the BBC now through their feedback.

I did some math. Apple is currently selling 2.5 million songs a week. Add that to the total, and you end up with over 65 Million songs sold by April 28th. Probably more like 70-75 since Apple's numbers are usually delayed. Then add the 30 Million songs Apple expects to sell via the 100 Million Pepsi caps. All of the sudden, 100 Million songs by the 28th of April seems totally reasonable.

klinux
Senior User

Joined: Jul 2002

0

03/15, 08:38pm | report spam | close Reply |
Tidewater

" When Steve Jobs made the 100 million claim, I think it was very clear that he meant to include the Pepsi totals."

You think? That's the best you can come up with? Or do you KNOW?

Here is what I know and here is what Job actually said:

"Mr Jobs hopes iTunes will have sold 100 million songs by its first anniversary at the end of April 2004."
Source = BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3207984.stm

"the store will sell 100 million songs before the end of next April, Jobs predicted."
Source = Wired http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,60901,00.html

"Jobs said the company aims to sell 100 million songs by the store's first anniversary."
Source: AP http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/7030277.htm

Well. Whether not Apple met what it hoped to achieve is one thing, adding in "I think what Job meant" is plain mkaing excuses.

Oh, I am sorry you have to do all that math to add in the Pepsi #s when it was clearly irrelevant. :)

Lastly, say a non-iTunes company claim it will sell 1 billion songs before end of March. Since it is not end of March yet does that mean we have to shut up and keep silent until April 1?

I think it is your "what he meant" argument that is completely meaningless.

Ratm
Mac Elite

Joined: Dec 2001

0

03/15, 08:52pm | report spam | close Reply |
Peanutbutter

I love the fact that MacNN now shows users names.....since then trolling has been cut in half. :)

horvatic
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2002

0

03/15, 10:17pm | report spam | close Reply |
Only 50 Million!

What's this ONLY 50 Million about anyway? Roxio's Napster can't even get 10 million. Let's see 50 Million minus 10 million equals 40 Million more than roxio's napster. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that they have even reached the 10 Million mark which I doubt. I would say that's a big number and that Apple's iTunes music store is doing an absolute fantastic job! I don't see the point of this story either, except another excuse to bash Apple for no reason. Especially when Apple is kicking butt on all of those WMA music stores!

kw99
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2001

0

03/15, 10:29pm | report spam | close Reply |
Apple might make it...

First, it was BBC with that article, not MacNN (which was just pointing readers to that article). I can't fault MacNN for deciding to "report" on the report. That's what MacNN does, and it was interesting news.

Second, Apple has a good shot of hitting 100 million, or getting reasonably close.

50 million now.
6 weeks left times 2.5 million per week equals 15 million.
That's 65 million so far.

So if about one third of the 100 million Pepsi promotion bottle caps get redeemed, it will make up the rest of the 100 million goal. And yes, Steve Jobs certainly did count them in the 100 million goal.

LouZer
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2000

0

03/15, 10:40pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: tidewater

Oh, I am sorry you have to do all that math to add in the Pepsi #s when it was clearly irrelevant. :)

The pepsi numbers aren't irrelevant. They are sales. Just because Pepsi is paying for them and not some customer doesn't mean it doesn't count.

spider610
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2003

0

03/15, 11:44pm | report spam | close Reply |
re: Tidewater

You know what? You're absolutely wrong.

I watch the keynote and I heard Jobs say it very clear: they want to sell 100 millions songs by April 28th, and the partnership with Pepsi to give away free songs is one way to help them to reach that mark!

BBC s**** up the fact entirely, and you people still re-telling the misinformation without varifying it ???

The 100 millions songs is including the Pepsi giveaways.

Go to Apple's website and watch the keynote yourselves.

joltguy
Mac Enthusiast

Joined: May 2001

0

03/16, 08:17am | report spam | close Reply |
100 Million

I think that Steve may have been counting on having the store available internationally (Canada, Europe) when he made that estimate. I guess negotiations with the RIAA overlord equivalents for these countries has gone slower than anticipated.

Anyone who starts dumping stock over a headline like this needs to have their own head checked.

klinux
Senior User

Joined: Jul 2002

0

03/16, 12:35pm | report spam | close Reply |
Hey Spider!

"But with just weeks left until the end of April, Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive, said Apple won't be able to sell 100 million songs by then. "We're not going to make that number," he said in an interview. "At the rate we're at right now, we'll probably have sold 70 million to 75 million songs" by the end of April."

Wall Street Journal 3/16/04
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB107938978233655966,00.html

I am sorry, naysayers, Apple did f*ck up with its estimates, like companies do. That's the truth. Try to explain it away with "I think what Job meant" and other lame guesses is, well, lame.

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iTunes store lags behind 100 million song target

updated 03:40 pm EST, Mon March 15, 2004

iTunes sales target

Wow that's fair.

Uh huh...

later this year...

evr1 knows

Bizarre interpretation

But who really care...

So

Get your facts straight

Lets have a moment

Pepsi

Totally guess?

To Mr.TideSwimmer

Once again

a sad day indeed...

racing

To Klinux

CNET story updated

Tell the BBC

Tidewater

Peanutbutter

Only 50 Million!

Apple might make it...

Re: tidewater

re: Tidewater

100 Million

Hey Spider!

Login Here

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iTunes store lags behind 100 million song target

updated 03:40 pm EST, Mon March 15, 2004

iTunes sales target

Related Articles

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Wow that's fair.

Uh huh...

later this year...

evr1 knows

Bizarre interpretation

But who really care...

So

Get your facts straight

Lets have a moment

Pepsi

Totally guess?

To Mr.TideSwimmer

Once again

a sad day indeed...

racing

To Klinux

CNET story updated

Tell the BBC

Tidewater

Peanutbutter

Only 50 Million!

Apple might make it...

Re: tidewater

re: Tidewater

100 Million

Hey Spider!

Login Here

Register for our weekly email newsletter:

Connect tools:

Subscribe

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on Twitter

10 Most Read

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MacNN Marketplace