Apple and Coca-Cola to give away free songs on iTunes

Major marketing deal launches iTunes-integrated Coca-Cola website

2 August 2006 10:28 GMT / By Amber Maitland

Apple and Coca-Cola have signed a marketing agreement to promote iTunes music throughout Europe via giveaways and other concerts.

The UK and Germany have been singled out for major promotions, although other European countries will also get in on the action.

Headlining the new deal is a Coca-Cola music website, at www.Coca-Cola.com/music, that features iTunes integration throughout.

This announcement comes in the wake of Coca-Cola's failed attempt at its own music store, mycokemusic.com, which was closed earlier this year.

In the UK, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, unsigned artists will be encouraged to upload tracks that will vie to be featured in the artists highlights and podcasts available on iTunes, as well as to receive invitations to perform at Coke-sponsored music festivals.

Live concerts in the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland will kick off the partnership.

In the UK, starting in mid-August, look out for song codes on promo packs of Coca-Cola and Diet Coke. Over 70 million free song coupons will be distributed; through www.Coca-Cola.com/music, you’ll be able to access the iTunes store and exchange the song cods for downloads.

There will be a five song limit per person.

In September in Germany, Coke will be giving away and iPod and 50 iTunes tracks every hour for eight weeks.

Apple are feeling particularly confident at the moment, after announcing that over 200 million songs have been purchased in Europe from iTunes’ 3 million-track library.