Apple celebrates 25 billion song downloads in iTunes

One iTunes user in Germany is going to have a lot of music to download during the year. Phillip Lüpke purchased the 25 billionth song download on Apple’s music store.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, Apple announced Wednesday that when Lüpke purchased “Monkey Drums (Goksel Vancin Remix)” by Chase Buch, he helped iTunes reach 25 billion song downloads. As a reward, the company gave him a gift card worth 10,000 euros or around $13,500.

“We are grateful to our users whose passion for music over the past 10 years has made iTunes the number one music retailer in the world,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, in a statement. “Averaging over 15,000 songs downloaded per minute, the iTunes Store connects music fans with their favorite artists, including global sensations like Adele and Coldplay and new artists like The Lumineers, on a scale we never imagined possible.”

Apple usually gives extravagant iTunes gift cards for customers who help them reach new heights. Last year, a Chinese shopper won a $10,000 card for buying the 25 billionth mobile app for his iPhone. In 2011, when the company reached 10 billion apps downloaded, Britain’s Gail Davis also earned a $10,000 card.

Louie Sulcer of Georgia downloaded the 10 billionth song when he bought Johnny Cash’s “Guess Things Happen That Way.”

iTunes is billed as the most popular music store in the world. Over 26 million songs are available on the store and can be used in 119 countries.