“Over half a billion songs have been sold and legally downloaded from the iTunes Music Store,” the home page of Apple.com reads. “Thanks to all the music fans in 19 countries for making the iTunes Music Store the #1 music download store.

Apple.com’s “iTunes – 50 Million Songs” web page reads:

Congratulations Amy Greer of Lafayette, Indiana, the 500 Millionth Song Grand Prize Winner. Amy purchased the 500 millionth song – Mississippi Girl by Faith Hill – and was awarded the grand prize:

• 10 iPods — choose from any model iPod, iPod mini, iPod U2 or iPod shuffle
• Gold 10,000-song Gift Card for the iTunes Music Store and 10 additional 50-song gift cards to go with those iPods
• Four Coldplay Tickets and a trip for you and three guests to see Coldplay on its current tour, with front-row seats (subject to availability)
• Coldplay “Back-stage” Passes for a meet ’n’ greet with the band (guaranteed availability)

100,000 Song Winners are also listed on the page here.

The Apple iTunes Music Store Milestones:
• July 17, 2005 500 million songs sold
• May 10, 2005 400 million songs sold. Custom stores for music fans in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland
• January 24, 2005 250 million songs sold.
• December 16, 2004 200 million songs sold.
• December 2, 2004 Available in Canada.
• October 26, 2004 Available to music lovers in the European Union.
• October 14, 2004 150 million songs sold.
• July 12, 2004 100 million songs sold.
• June 15, 2004 Available in UK France Germany.
• April 28, 2004 70 million songs sold.
• March 15, 2004 50 million songs sold.
• December 15, 2003 25 million songs sold.
• October 16, 2003 Available for windows. 13 million songs sold.
• September 8, 2003 10 million songs sold.
• June 23, 2003 5 million songs sold.
• May 14, 2003 2 million songs sold.
• May 5, 2003 One million songs sold.
• April 28, 2003 Launched in United States.

More info about Apple’s iTunes Music Store here.