Starbucks to give away 50M free iTunes downloads

[AppleInsider]

Starbucks announced Monday that it plans to give away 50 million songs to customers of its U.S. coffee shops to promote its new iTunes wireless service that's set to debut next month in select markets.

From October 2 to November 7, more than 10,000 Starbucks locations will hand out approximately 1.5 million "Song of the Day" cards redeemable on the iTunes Store. Upon receiving the cards, customers will have until the end of the calendar year to redeem the song.

The complimentary download cards will offer hand-picked songs from top artists including Bob Dylan, Joss Stone, Dave Matthews, Bebel Gilberto, John Mayer, KT Tunstall, John Legend, Annie Lennox, Joni Mitchell, Keith Urban and Paul McCartney plus music from up-and-coming artists such as Sia, Band of Horses, Hilary McRae, Frederico Aubele and Sara Bareilles.

The promotion aims to celebrate the coffee house's new "Now Playing" feature, which will allow customers using the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at Starbucks to instantly preview, buy, and download the music currently playing overhead.

Set to go live on October 2 in more than 600 Starbucks locations in New York and Seattle, the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store will expand to 350 Starbucks stores in the San Francisco Bay area in early November; 500 stores in Los Angeles in early February 2008; 300 stores in Chicago in March 2008; and additional markets throughout the U.S. later in 2008.

"This is a landmark moment for Starbucks," said Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment. "With the launch of the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at Starbucks we can now provide the same classic coffeehouse experience and compelling music offerings our customers have come to expect from us through a new platform ideal for the digital music consumer."

Also beginning October 2, Starbucks company-operated locations in the U.S. will offer iTunes Digital Release Cards for sale, including KT Tunstall’s "Drastic Fantastic" with bonus music videos, digital booklet and a behind-the-scenes documentary video, and music from the film "Into the Wild," featuring all new songs from Eddie Vedder with bonus tracks and digital booklet.

Each iTunes Digital Release Card will contain a full album’s worth of music and feature collectible artwork. After the card is activated upon purchase at Starbucks, customers can download the album and bonus material on the iTunes Store for Mac or PC.

Starbucks will also offer the Starbucks Card Plus Two, a limited edition re-loadable Starbucks card with added bonus value. When a Starbucks Card Plus Two is registered online the cardholder will receive two complimentary song downloads of their choice on the U.S. iTunes Store.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[eh270]

Each iTunes Digital Release Card will contain a full album’s worth of music and feature collectible artwork.

Interesting; but is this a gift card? Or a memory card? The word 'contain' threw me off..

[macintel4me]

I wonder when Apple will change the iTunes WiFi Music Store to the iTunes WiFi/3G Music Store.

[solipsism]

I predict Starbucks stores will be playing a lot of music from the following artists:

Bob Dylan, Joss Stone, Dave Matthews, Bebel Gilberto, John Mayer, KT Tunstall, John Legend, Annie Lennox, Joni Mitchell, Keith Urban and Paul McCartney plus music from up-and-coming artists such as Sia, Band of Horses, Hilary McRae, Frederico Aubele and Sara Bareilles.

Originally Posted by eh270

Interesting; but is this a gift card? Or a memory card? The word 'contain' threw me off..

I think it should be "allow".

[Rot'nApple]

Remember folks, that "Song of the Day" promo is for ALL U.S. Starbuck locations. So get out there and get your Brazillian Blend Supremo Costa Rica Organic Gazebo Mocha Rift Decaf Tanzania Latte coffee with a hiint of cinnamon and pumpkin spices and....

From Yahoo News... "Starbucks Corp. plans to give away 50 million free digital songs to customers in all of its domestic coffee houses to promote a new wireless iTunes music service that's about to debut in select markets."

link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070924/...XNq3AC3eGs0NUE

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Rot'nApple

Hey Startbucks, when you get to my neck of the woods, will you have the same "Song of the Day" promo too?

You must really live in the woods to not be near a Starbucks.

[dontlookleft]

Honestly, I hope they forget to give me a card if I so happen to wonder into a starbucks and purchase a beverage. None of those artists really sound appealing to my ears. Oh well...try again starbucks...but next time don't limit the choices!

[Foo2]

I already gave Apple hundreds of dollars not to be hit with more spam.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by solipsism

I predict Starbucks stores will be playing a lot of music from the following artists:

Bob Dylan, Joss Stone, Dave Matthews, Bebel Gilberto, John Mayer, KT Tunstall, John Legend, Annie Lennox, Joni Mitchell, Keith Urban and Paul McCartney plus music from up-and-coming artists such as Sia, Band of Horses, Hilary McRae, Frederico Aubele and Sara Bareilles.

I really don't get the connection. Is this good? Bad? Or you think these are Steve's favorites?

[green-bee.salsa]

Who pays for the 50M? Only Starbucks?

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

I really don't get the connection. Is this good? Bad? Or you think these are Steve's favorites?

I think these are ones that Starbucks and Apple makes the most money on from the recording studios, so if these are what they are giving away then I predict Starbucks will be playing more of these tracks than others.

[potterhead4]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

I really don't get the connection. Is this good? Bad? Or you think these are Steve's favorites?

Don't most of them either sell their albums at Starbucks or release music on the new Starbucks label?

[Restalot]

Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't millions of Napster/Post-Napster computer users already figured out how to get free music without a $6 cup of coffee and a trip out of thier parents basement?

[blackfrog]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Starbucks announced Monday that it plans to give away 50 million songs to customers of its U.S. coffee shops to promote its new iTunes wireless service that's set to debut next month in select markets.

Yes, but Panera Bread has WiFI for free. Sorry Starbucks. Panera still has my business.

[MacTel]

Originally Posted by solipsism

You must really live in the woods to not be near a Starbucks.

They may have Starbucks but not all Starbucks have WiFi. For that matter, not WiFi Starbucks will be iTunes enabled until 2009.

[jonessodarally]

okay, let me see if i can help clear up some questions. I work at starbucks, so we kinda have a little bit more clear info on what all is going down.


first, the digital download cards (KT Tungstall was used as an example) are basically little postcard sized things with a barcode on them, and you buy it for like $14, and then you take that card home and enter the code, and you can download the album, plus about an albums worth of extra stuff you wouldn't be able to get otherwise (music videos, live performances, acoustic versions, etc.) nothing too exciting, but if you're a big fan of whatever artist, then.. maybe it is. haha


as for the songs given away each day, same thing basically, you get a card with a code to enter into itunes. the difference is that they're handing them out for free, and they're good for one specific song.

The song choices are from the CDs that Starbucks is already promoting in their stores nationwide. This just sorta gives them a new way to promote starbucks' music through iTunes. Convenient, but not much else.

Then finally, the "Starbucks Card Plus Two" is just like the current Starbucks gift cards (except its got a nice little music related design on it so you know its a music one) and when you get it, if you register the card on the Starbucks website (also an option with the current gift cards, but nobody ever really does it) they will e-mail you a code to enter into iTunes to use for two free downloads, and these two are ANY song of your choice (sorta like the pepsi caps a while back).


Hope that helps. Hit me up with any questions.

[jonessodarally]

Originally Posted by Restalot

Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't millions of Napster/Post-Napster computer users already figured out how to get free music without a $6 cup of coffee and a trip out of thier parents basement?

Yeah, this is more for the people who like to get stuff for free, but legally.

[moggy]

There's an elephant in the room and I'm not sure if he's been addressed ..... will Starbucks be including free wi-fi access beyond *just* their own Wi-Fi store?

[onceuponamac]

Originally Posted by moggy

There's an elephant in the room and I'm not sure if he's been addressed ..... will Starbucks be including free wi-fi access beyond *just* their own Wi-Fi store?

I doubt it - I don't think tmobile would like that too much. I also noticed in Starbucks NY stores that they've put flat screen monitors that show the current song playing with a coverflow style picture...

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by jonessodarally

okay, let me see if i can help clear up some questions. I work at starbucks, so we kinda have a little bit more clear info on what all is going down.


first, the digital download cards (KT Tungstall was used as an example) are basically little postcard sized things with a barcode on them, and you buy it for like $14, and then you take that card home and enter the code, and you can download the album, plus about an albums worth of extra stuff you wouldn't be able to get otherwise (music videos, live performances, acoustic versions, etc.) nothing too exciting, but if you're a big fan of whatever artist, then.. maybe it is. haha


as for the songs given away each day, same thing basically, you get a card with a code to enter into itunes. the difference is that they're handing them out for free, and they're good for one specific song.

The song choices are from the CDs that Starbucks is already promoting in their stores nationwide. This just sorta gives them a new way to promote starbucks' music through iTunes. Convenient, but not much else.

Then finally, the "Starbucks Card Plus Two" is just like the current Starbucks gift cards (except its got a nice little music related design on it so you know its a music one) and when you get it, if you register the card on the Starbucks website (also an option with the current gift cards, but nobody ever really does it) they will e-mail you a code to enter into iTunes to use for two free downloads, and these two are ANY song of your choice (sorta like the pepsi caps a while back).


Hope that helps. Hit me up with any questions.

Guess that clears that up. Thanks for filling in the blank spots.

[Rot'nApple]

Originally Posted by solipsism

You must really live in the woods to not be near a Starbucks.

Misinterpretted AI's report... Sorry... thought the free iTunes Song of the Day giveaway was only in New York and Seatle?!

For a minute, I felt like a Canadian, a la iPhone announcements!

That's why I self delete and changed my comments.

Not too far out in the sticks, have a Starbucks just 5 minutes up the road.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by solipsism

I think it should be "allow".

I guess that's what happens when Kasper relies on imported semi-fluent minions.

[jonessodarally]

Originally Posted by onceuponamac

I doubt it - I don't think tmobile would like that too much. I also noticed in Starbucks NY stores that they've put flat screen monitors that show the current song playing with a coverflow style picture...

Nah, Steve made it clear that this would only provide free access to the music system in the stores, not the full wi-fi service. I believe they are going to be, in essence, completely separate systems.

I think they are doing the "segmented roll-out" to allow for the installation of new sound systems in the stores, which will also broadcast the iTunes information. I don't know for sure, but I think it will be completely disconnected from the t-mobile service.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by jonessodarally

Nah, Steve made it clear that this would only provide free access to the music system in the stores, not the full wi-fi service. I believe they are going to be, in essence, completely separate systems.

I think they are doing the "segmented roll-out" to allow for the installation of new sound systems in the stores, which will also broadcast the iTunes information. I don't know for sure, but I think it will be completely disconnected from the t-mobile service.

Maybe, just maybe, in the future Apple's deal with T-Mobile in Germany will allow for T-Mobile HotSpots to have free access to the internet for iPhones/Touchs.

One hypothetical example:
Apple feels can it benefit more from sales of the iPhones/Touches and AT&T contracts in the US if Starbucks and Borders' T-Mobile HotSpots are included as free Wi-Fi access points, while simultaneously T-Mobile in Germany feels it can benefit more by giving Apple a smaller percentage of monthly contractual dues.

[McDave]

Originally Posted by Restalot

Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't millions of Napster/Post-Napster computer users already figured out how to get free music without a $6 cup of coffee and a trip out of thier parents basement?

Napster!! Old mission statement: How to get songs and pay no money.....New mission statement: How to pay money and get no songs!! (Sorry I just read up on Virgin Digital's demise - poor saps!)

McD

[McDave]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

The promotion aims to celebrate the coffee house's new "Now Playing" feature, which will allow customers using the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at Starbucks to instantly preview, buy, and download the music currently playing overhead.

Similar feature coming soon to AppleTV? (snapshot regular TV?) Or at least snapshot purchases of iTunes New Music Tuesday podcast?

[3ways2play]

Set to go live on October 2 in more than 600 Starbucks locations in New York and Seattle, the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store will expand to 350 Starbucks stores in the San Francisco Bay area in early November; 500 stores in Los Angeles in early February 2008; 300 stores in Chicago in March 2008; and additional markets throughout the U.S. later in 2008.

sound like this part was cut and pasted from a really old press release. it has not come to LA or chicago yet and the itunes starbucks page has changed the date to "coming soon".

[k squared]

Originally Posted by moggy

There's an elephant in the room and I'm not sure if he's been addressed ..... will Starbucks be including free wi-fi access beyond *just* their own Wi-Fi store?

I thought I read this somewhere. You need to have a Starbucks card, a registered account, and the store needs to have switched over to AT&T. This is my biggest beef with Starbucks. The time for paid wi-fi is over. If my local mom/pop coffee shop can offer free access on their dime, then surely a corporation can absorb the cost.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by k squared

I thought I read this somewhere. You need to have a Starbucks card, a registered account, and the store needs to have switched over to AT&T. This is my biggest beef with Starbucks. The time for paid wi-fi is over. If my local mom/pop coffee shop can offer free access on their dime, then surely a corporation can absorb the cost.

As the number of WiFi capable cell phone increases and the iPhone user's excessive internet usage grows even faster with a 3G version. I hope AT&T will let their customers with WIFi capable cell phones to use AT&T WiFi for free. This will free up some of the expensive cell congestion and put it on the cheap and faster WiFi. I don't know if this will make much of a difference, but it will help some.

I also have a Sierra Wireless 3G card for my computer on my AT&T account. I'd like to be able to use these AT&T WiFi hotspots for free. It seems it would benefit both AT&T and me.