Starbucks Orders up 50M Free iTunes Songs

Still glowing from its deal with Apple that'll give iPod and iPhone users free access to the Wi-Fi iTunes Store at its retail stores, Starbucks has now pledged to hand out 50 million "song of the day" iTunes gift cards, starting October 2.

The offer will run until November 7, according to digital music guru Eliot Van Buskirk at Listening Post. About 37 artists are taking part in the giveaway, including Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Joss Stone, and Annie Lennox, and the first song to be given away will be "Joker Man" by Bob Dylan. Starbucks reps say the chain expects to hand out about 1.5 million gift cards each day before the offer wraps up.

In addition to the free songs, Starbucks will also start selling entire albums via card, complete with bonus material; again, you'd just buy a card and redeem it at the iTunes store. First album up for sale? The soundtrack from "Into the Wild," an upcoming film directed by Sean Penn.

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Starbucks To Give Away 50 Million ITunes Songs [Listening Post]