Starbucks and Apple to give away downloads

Starbucks is partnering with Apple to launch a free music and book download service for customers.

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Each week the 700-strong chain will select one music track or one iBook which will be freely available for customers to download through its “Pick of the Week” initiative.

Customers will be given an iTunes card that gives them 60 days to download the content.

Starbucks says the scheme is one of the ways it is offering customers more value. It has been running Pick of the Week in the US since 2006.

To launch the initiative Starbucks is giving away both a free song and iBook. The first free track will be James Morrison’s “In My Dreams”, available from today (17 October). Other artists will include Coldplay, Tony Bennett, Norah Jones, and The Kooks.

Limitless by Alan Glynn will be the first iBook available through the service. David Peace’s Damned United will follow.

The launch follows the introduction of Starbucks’ “one-click” Wi-Fi service last week, which allows customers to access the internet in stores without registering.

Brian Waring, vice president of marketing and category for Starbucks UK and Ireland says: “With the Pick of the Week programme, Starbucks and Apple are two iconic brands coming together in the UK to make Mondays a little brighter by offering our customers great content. Launching easy-access free Wi-Fi and giving free downloads are just some of the ways that are giving customers more value.”

Starbucks is running a press ad campaign to promote “Pick of the Week” and it will be supported in-store.

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