SEATTLE, WA. (Real Networks press release) - RealNetworks, Inc. today announced that more than one million songs were sold in the first week of the Freedom of Choice campaign. The combination of the ongoing 49-cent-per-song RealPlayer
Music Store promotion and a simultaneous promotion of Rhapsody resulted in the highest number of songs sold in a week by RealNetworks and the busiest week ever for Rhapsody registrations.
Last week, RealNetworks, already the leader in music subscription services with more than 550,000 music subscribers as of the end of June, launched the 49-cent promotion and RealPlayer 10.5 with Harmony Technology. Harmony Technology enables consumers to play songs downloaded from the RealPlayer Music Store on more than 100 portable music devices. Together with a host of other music offerings, which include an extensive music guide on the Real Guide, more than 1,000 free music videos, exclusive songs, access to more than 3,000 radio stations including premium radio stations, and the RollingStone.com web site, RealNetworks offers a wealth of resources for music fans.
"RealNetworks is the leader in subscription services and we now believe we are clearly number two in a la carte download sales. Paired with our free music offerings, Real is the clear leader in digital music services today," said Richard Wolpert, Chief Strategy Officer, RealNetworks. "We knew that the 49 cent promotion and a campaign showcasing the need for compatibility in the digital music industry would send a powerful message and we are very pleased with the results."
Top Titles Available
Real offers extensive music libraries with more than 625,000 songs available for downloading in the RealPlayer Music Store and more than 725,000 songs for on-demand listening from Rhapsody. The most popular song purchased and played over the past week across both services was "She Will be Loved" by Maroon 5.
As of August 23rd, the top 10 songs downloaded from the RealPlayer Music Store are:
1. She Will Be Loved, Maroon 5
2. Let's Get It Started, Black Eyed Peas
3. This Love, Maroon 5
4. The Reason, Hoobastank
5. Heaven, Los Lonely Boys
6. Yeah!, Usher (featuring Lil' Jon & Ludacris)
7. My Happy Ending, Avril Lavigne
8. Harder To Breath, Maroon 5
9. My Place, Nelly
10. I Like That (Extended Version), Houston
Powered by the extensive and easy-to-use music directory of the award-winning Rhapsody digital music service, the RealPlayer Music Store provides the highest quality of any download store: 192 kbps RealAudio 10 with AAC.
With the newly introduced Harmony Technology, consumers can transfer their purchased songs to more than 100 portable music devices, including the iPod.
In addition to the RealPlayer Music Store and Rhapsody, RealNetworks operates RollingStone.com and the Music section of Real Guide, which offers exclusive performances and videos of Maroon 5 and other popular artists. The 49-cent Freedom of Choice promotion is still available for a limited time only.
