German student becomes iTunes icon

Apple’s iTunes music store hit its 25 billionth download - more than three songs for every person on Earth - and on Wednesday gave the German economics student who bought the track a gift card worth 10,000 euro ($13,500).

Phillip Luepke, 22, of Hanover, Germany, downloaded the techno song “Monkey Drums (Goksel Vancin Remix)” by British DJ Chase Buch, hitting the number a decade after the online music store debuted.

“I was very surprised to hear the news,” Luepke said. “I woke up this morning and had an e-mail from Apple saying I had the 25 billionth download. In fact, I didn’t quite believe it at first. It’s a new feeling for me.”

Luepke, who is currently studying for exams, said he heard the song at a disco last Saturday night.

He used the song-identification smartphone app Shazam to look up its name, after which he downloaded “Monkey Drums” the following evening.

Luepke, who will celebrate over a few beers with friends, said he is not sure how he will spend the gift certificate, but he is confident his music and movie collection will grow.

Cupertino, Califoria-based Apple launched the iTunes store in April 2003 and has averaged about 15,000 songs downloaded each minute. The store has a catalog of more than 26 million songs in 119 countries.

Reuters