MCT CampusStarbucks and Apple have teamed up for a new promotion that is available in Starbucks across the country until Nov. 2. Apple and iTunes will be giving away 50 million free songs to customers in the stores.
The Starbucks on Lancaster Avenue is participating in the “Song of the Day” promotion. When customers purchase a cup of coffee, they are given a card to download the song that is available for that day.
Every day, 1.5 million songs will be distributed to customers with a purchase. The cards will have a code that can be redeemed on iTunes for the “Song of the Day.” The “Song of the Day” will change daily throughout the promotion and will feature songs from artists such as Bob Dylan, Joss Stone, John Mayer, Dave Matthews and more.
Also, customers are able to purchase reloadable gift cards, Starbucks Card Plus Two. When customers register the cards online, they will receive two free iTunes songs. These cards are only available in a limited edition.
In addition to the “Song of the Day” Starbucks will also be including a new feature. iPhone and iPod Touch users will be able to wirelessly download the music playing in the coffeehouses.
When users are within range of the shop’s T-Mobile HotSpot Wi-Fi signal, they will be able to access the music currently playing and download the music directly to their device. Also, laptop users will be able to use the signal to download and buy the music.
This service will begin in 600 shops in New York and Seattle. From there, the service will expand to the San Francisco Bay area, and then eventually to more major cities. Starbucks plans to have this service expand to all of their shops in the United States by 2009.
This new feature is expanding on the partnership that already existed between Starbucks and Apple. Last year, the iTunes store began selling the Starbucks Hear Music play lists. iTunes users were able to preview and download many songs played in the shops.
“This is a landmark moment for Starbucks,” Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment, said in a press release. “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. This is the first step in combining the power of brick and mortar retail and digital music.”
“I think it’s a great way to cross promote two things Americans love: coffee and music.” Amy Karwoski, a sophomore undecided major, said.
These new features will hopefully be a huge success for both Starbucks and Apple.
“Getting free access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store and the ‘Now Playing’ service at Starbucks is a great way for customers to discover new music,” Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO said in a press release. “Imagine walking into a participating Starbucks, hearing a great song, and being able to instantly download it onto your iPod or iPhone. We think this is very cool.”
