Starbucks will give away some 50 million iTunes song downloads as it kicks off its new partnership with Apple. Announced at the same time that Apple unveiled new iPods, Starbucks will allow Wi-Fi-enabled iPods to purchase and download music played in the coffee shop from the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store.
From October 2 to November 7, Starbucks will hand out some 1.5 million songs per day giving customers a “song of the day” card redeemable at iTunes. 37 songs will featured from artists such as Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews, Bebel Gilberto, John Mayer, KT Tunstall, Annie Lennox, Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney, Sia, Band of Horses, and Sara Bareilles. Also starting on October 2nd, customers will be able to buy iTunes digital release cards, allowing them to download full albums of music and bonus material. The first two to be offered will be KT Tunstall’s “Drastic Fantastic” and the soundtrack for “Into the Wild” featuring songs from Eddie Vedder. And that’s not all: A limited edition purchasing card will also be available. It will give customers who register their cards online two free iTunes downloads.
The promotion will run in New York and Seattle. The program (but not promotion) will expand to San Fransisco in early November, Los Angeles in February 2008 with more locations to follow later. Full US coverage should be completed by 2010.