Despite a catalog with sizable holes in it, Apple’s iTunes Music Store sold more than one million songs in its first week online.
“In less than one week, we’ve broken every record and become the largest online music company in the word,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs proclaimed in a press release.
As reported by The Washington Times last week, Apple’s new digital downloading service — compatible only with Mac computers for now — lacks major artists such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Madonna among its initial offering of 200,000 songs.
That didn’t stop Apple customers from devouring the iTunes online jukebox and ordering scads of iPods, the computer company’s portable MP3 player. Apple reported a boost of 110,000 new iPod sales.
Last week’s brisk downloading activity took record company executives by surprise, according to a statement released Monday by Apple.
Roger Ames, who heads Warner Music Group, said the high number of song downloads — which cost 99 cents apiece — was “totally unexpected.” Universal Music Group honcho Doug Morris said he had hoped iTunes would move one million songs within a month.
Apple reportedly reached a deal with all five major record labels — Warner, Universal, BMG, Sony and EMI — to furnish the Music Store’s content.
Perhaps in recognition of its content gaps, Apple made a point of noting that it added more than 3,200 new songs to the iTunes catalog, including Fleetwood Mac’s latest album, “Say You Will,” all of Alanis Morissette’s material, additional Eagles albums and other content.
Still no word on whether Apple will procure songs from, um, the most popular and best-selling groups of all time.
This article is based in part on wire service reports.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.