Tech Shout!

On Thursday, Coffee house chain Starbucks said that it had signed an agreement with Apple Computer. The agreement with Apple is to make its ‘Hear Music’ offerings available to all via the iTunes service. The Starbucks Hear Music catalog is being positioned within a dedicated area on Apple’s iTunes. Users will be allowed to port tracks to the iPod.

Starbucks digital strategy has largely been concentrated on digital, CD-burning kiosks. Now this agreement with Apple Computers will help bridge the critical missing link in their strategy.

“Many of our customers want to listen to our music on their iPods, and now that will be easier than ever,” said Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment.

Now that Starbucks has teamed up with Apple, this new found relationship is bound to enhance the Starbucks brand. It will also help to further extend the coffee giants music initiative.

“Millions of people enjoy the great music featured at Starbucks locations worldwide, and ask us for it by name,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “Starbucks Hear Music has been a hit with music fans and we’re thrilled to add a Starbucks area to iTunes with all this great music online for the first time.”

Songs from Starbucks featured artists include Marvin Gaye and Sonya Kitchell. They will be available for 99 cents and as on the spot downloads. Starbucks also plans to craft iTunes-specific playlists, which is a feature that will be driven by the same team that selects featured talent.

Many of Starbucks release series will be included in the dedicated iTunes area, including the Artist’s Choice, Opus Collections, and Debut Series.

It must be noted that several million CDs have been sol through Starbucks outlets.