iTunes Music Store Number One in the UK with 80 Percent Market Share

LONDON – September 7, 2005 – Apple today announced that the iTunes Music Store is the number one digital music service in the UK with 80 percent market share of digital sales, according to the Official Charts Company (OCC). With over 1.7 million songs in the UK catalog, breakthrough pricing, seamless integration with iPod and groundbreaking personal use rights, the iTunes Music Store is the best way for Mac and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music online.

“We’re thrilled that music fans in the UK have made the iTunes Music Store their number one choice for purchasing digital music,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We feature the largest catalog in the UK with over 1.7 million songs and strive to bring iTunes customers the hottest new and exclusive content in the world.”

The iTunes Music Store in the UK continuously adds new, exclusive content, including original “Live from London” recordings from Stereophonics, James Blunt and Stephen Fretwell and EP’s from Jamiroquai and Black Eyed Peas, which contains a bonus video. Also featured are an acoustic version of David Gray’s new single “The One I Love,” and Bloc Party’s new album “Silent Alarm Remixed” with an extra track exclusive to iTunes. Upcoming features include a pre-order for Jamie Cullum’s new album which will be available on all iTunes stores across Europe on September 13. Fans who pre-order the new release will receive a deluxe version, which includes the album, video, digital booklet and an exclusive live EP from a performance at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London.

The iTunes Music Store in the UK features more than 1.7 million songs from the major music companies and over 1,000 independent record labels, 10,000 audiobooks, gift certificates and exclusive music not found anywhere else online. The iTunes Music Store in the UK also carries 15,000 Podcasts, including several from the BBC, which currently hold six of the Top 10 slots on the Podcast chart.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.