iTunes downloads top 500 million mark

Music downloads from Apple Computer's iTunes Music Store topped 500 million, the company said Monday. Amy Greer of Lafayette, Ind., purchased Faith Hill's "Mississippi Girl" as the 500 millionth song sold from the online music store. The milestone download has won her 10 iPods, a gift card for 10,000 songs and an all-paid trip for four to a concert by Coldplay, which is on a world tour.

The store crossed the 250 million mark six months ago. Launched two years ago, iTunes took 11 months to sell the first 50 million songs. The downloads picked up subsequently, hitting the 200 million mark by last December.