October 16, 2003: Apple and Pepsi Announce Plans to Give Away 1 Million Songs

In conjunction with a Super Bowl ad, Apple and Pepsi announced that certain Pepsi products would come with a chance to win a free song. The drinks that could get you free iTunes music were Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, and Sierra Mist--provided that said drinks were purchased in single 20-ounce or 1-liter sizes.

Steve Jobs said of the promotion:
“This historic promotion to legally give away 100 million free songs will go down in history as igniting the legal download market. Pepsi has marketed their products through music for generations, and this is going to be another one that is remembered for decades.”

That was a little bit of hyperbole; iTunes was already a monster hit, but people do remember the million-song giveaway announced on this day in 2003.