A Significant Milestone in Apple’s Musical Journey
A Remarkable Achievement
On March 15, 2004, the iTunes Music Store achieved an impressive milestone by selling its 50 millionth song within just under a year of operations. This accomplishment not only solidified Apple’s position at the forefront of a transforming music industry but also marked a pivotal moment in digital music history.
Steve Jobs, Apple’s iconic CEO, stated at the time: “Reaching the milestone of 50 million downloaded songs is a significant achievement for iTunes and signifies the dawn of the digital music era. With more than 50 million downloads and an additional 2.5 million songs being picked up weekly, it becomes increasingly challenging for competitors to catch up.”
The Rise of iTunes: Dominating Downloads
While those figures from 2004 were remarkable on their own, it’s essential to note that Apple has since sold billions of songs via iTunes. The company eventually ceased announcing new sales milestones as its success continued to grow exponentially—evidence that it was merely at the beginning stages.
Although Jobs modestly downplayed how rapidly iTunes was infiltrating the music sector during announcements, he accurately portrayed Apple’s advantage over rivals. Just months later, they broke through to surpass 100 million downloads.
By five years after its launch on April 28, 2003, Apple had crowned itself as America’s leading retailer for music—not merely online but across all platforms—and expanded its dominance globally by February 2010.
Changing Landscape: Streaming Takes Over
However, with the arrival and rise in popularity of streaming services like Spotify—boasting over 256 million paid subscribers as reported in early 2025—Apple’s reign began to wane. Currently estimated at around 93 million users, Apple Music does not offer any free version unlike many competitors. Consequently, song downloads have significantly dwindled in their appeal and relevance.
Though it may seem like distant history now with evolving consumption patterns favoring streaming models over download purchases—in truth—the monumental sales achievements by iTunes deserve reflection for highlighting just how far Apple had advanced back then compared to today’s market dynamics.
Looking Back: Personal Connections
Do you recall your very first purchase from iTunes? We invite you to share your memories and stories below!
