Apple’s iTunes Music Store has reached another milestone, breaking 150 million downloads, the company announced on Thursday. iTunes users are now downloading more than 4 million songs per week, a rate of over 200 million songs per year, Apple said in a prepared statement.
The 150 millionth song was “Ex-Factor” by Lauryn Hill and was purchased by Beth Santisteven from Ignacio, Colorado.
“Crossing 150 million downloads marks another major milestone for the online music business,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of Applications. “We’re looking forward to bringing iTunes to even more music lovers when we launch our pan-EU music store soon.”
Apple also announced the availability of of iTunes gift cards at all Best Buy stores.
Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer revealed during the company’s financial report yesterday that music based revenue grew 370 percent — 2.016 million iPod units shipped, more than twice the last quarter. Oppenheimer related figures that suggest Apple has more than 70 percent share of legal music downloads. iTunes Music Store will expand to additional European countries by the end of the month.