Apple yesterday said that the iTunes Music Store had achieved --far short of the advertised 100 million song giveaway. On its first anniversary, Apple also began offering free music downloads each week, but did not say whether those free downloads were included in the latest numbers or how many free songs had been downloaded.
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Is about $85m
This is a very small business in the scheme of things which generates far more noise than its size would suggest. The amount of publicity for Apple generated by this relatively small business is fantastic.
$85m buys you 42,500 two grand PowerMacs. How many PowerMacs does Apple sell in a year?
No one gets $85m. The RIAA gets most of it. And Apple gets no where near $85m. So you should replace "very small business" with "very tiny business"
Given most tech companies spend tons of money and get nothing its a good start for Apple. All in all the buisiness add value to the Mac and PCs.
Here is the problem: Microsoft will come out with their service. I would not be surprised if they just give songs away for free and write the music companies a check. Then M will tout they have majority market share and we see wma on the ipod. M's communist monopoly position will ruin another market.
The $85m is the *turnover* of the iTunes Music Store part of Apple Corp.
The fact that they have to give a lot of it away is not relevant - they have to give a lot of their normal turnover away to suppliers too (IBM/Motorola/Sharp/Tiawanese subcontractors etc etc). The RIAA is just another supplier of a good / service like any other.
It's still an $85m business
Now.. let's continue the momentum on the iTunes Music Store for Europeans.
"I would not be surprised if they just give songs away for free and write the music companies a check."
You are right about that. I wouldn't be surprise if MS gives away the first 10 million songs for free, and write the labels a check. Ofcuse they'll try to tie it into something like subscribe to MSN and get free music.
What's great about Apple's new product is that it comes just after Microsoft announces it will discontinue most of it's Wi-Fi hardware. Right when they indirectly admit failure, Apple announces a success.
The $85m is the *turnover* of the iTunes Music Store part of Apple Corp.
Wait, I thought Apple Corp was the company that ran the Beatles music collection. Man, now I'm confused on how these guys get a share of the money without even putting up their catalog.
My mistake - no confusion intended.
Not to veer off-topic, but speaking of iTunes what ever happened to the announced iTunes 4.6 slated for yesterday afteroon.
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Yay me!
I bought about 50 of those songs.
Apple wouldn't have gotten there without me.