iTunes

Affiliates: Frequently Asked Questions

Program Overview

What is the iTunes Affiliate Program?

The iTunes Affiliate Program allows you to place links on your website to the U.S. iTunes Store. You can link to songs, albums, artists, TV shows, movies, music videos, audiobooks, popular public radio programs, podcasts, iPhone and iPod touch applications, and more. You'll earn a commission on all qualifying revenue generated by links to iTunes posted on your website.

Get more information about the iTunes Affiliate Program in Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

Becoming an Affiliate

Why should I sign up for the iTunes Affiliate Program?

iTunes is the world’s best digital media player with the #1 music download store inside. iTunes has sold billions of songs worldwide, providing fans with the best digital music experience on a PC or Mac.

In addition to generating commissions, you can add valuable and compelling content to your site with special promotions from iTunes. iTunes offers the largest legal music download catalog — more than 8 million songs from the major music companies and more than 1,000 independents. Now you can make it easy for your customers to find music, TV shows, movies, audiobooks, and more.

iTunes has partnered with LinkShare, the leading Internet provider of innovative technology that helps affiliates sell more products and earn more commissions. LinkShare provides the technological interface that enables iTunes Affiliates to access iTunes links, track performance, and get paid.

How do I sign up?

Click here to access the online application form administered by LinkShare. Once you complete the form, you will receive an email from LinkShare regarding your participation as an affiliate in the LinkShare Network. Your email will contain your user name and password. Within three business days, you will receive an email from iTunes regarding the status of your iTunes Affiliate Program application.

What happens next?

Once you have been accepted as an iTunes Affiliate, you will be able to access your account from www.linkshare.com using your LinkShare user name and password. From there you can access all the tools you need to create links to iTunes.

If you need to update your affiliate account, click the Your Account tab and select Update Profile from the left column.

What does it cost to join?

Nothing. It’s free to become an iTunes Affiliate.

Eligibility

Is my website eligible for the iTunes Affiliate Program?

You can fill out an application for any website, and we accept a wide variety of sites in the program. However, we reserve the right to refuse any site that does not comply with our Terms and Conditions.

Can websites outside the United States join?

Yes, but since the iTunes Affiliate Program is only for the U.S. iTunes Store, we seek affiliates who cater to customers residing in the United States.

Get more information about the iTunes Affiliate Program in Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

If I have more than one site, can I still become an iTunes Affiliate?

Absolutely. Just register each of your sites as subaffiliates under one affiliate account. You will receive a single check for all of your sites.

Linking to iTunes

How do I create iTunes links?

Use your affiliate user name and password to log in at www.linkshare.com. On the Create Links page for iTunes, you will find banners and text links. As an affiliate, you also have access to the iTunes RSS feeds and the ability to create direct links to any song, artist, album, or audiobook on iTunes, as well as to iMix playlists, podcasts, and iTunes Essentials.

How do I link to my favorite content on iTunes?

Use iTunes Link Maker, available on the Create Links page in the iTunes Affiliate interface. From there, search for the song, artist, album, TV show, music video, or audiobook you’d like to link to. You'll receive a URL to add to your website and email campaigns. You can also publish iMix playlists to your Flash-enabled website, blog, or social networking profile using the “Publish to the Web” feature of any iMix on the iTunes Store.

How do I link to a podcast?

Use the Individual Product Link creator on LinkShare to create an affiliate link to promote any podcast available in the iTunes Store Podcast Directory.

How do iTunes links work?

All links to iTunes launch the iTunes software and open to the iTunes Store. If visitors to your site do not have iTunes installed, the link redirects the browser to a website where they can download iTunes for both PC and Mac for free. iTunes links are compatible with Safari, Internet Explorer, and Firefox.

You need a Mac with Mac OS X or a PC with Windows 2000, XP, or Vista to visit the iTunes Store. However, you can include iTunes links on your website regardless of your operating system.

Earning Commission

How much commission will I earn?

As an iTunes Affiliate, you can earn a 5 percent commission on all qualifying revenue generated by links to iTunes on your website and in email.

How do I know how much money I’ve earned?

You can access information on sales, commissions, visitors, clicks, impressions, and conversion rates in the iTunes Affiliate section at www.linkshare.com.

When do I get paid?

You will get a single check from LinkShare each month for the commission you’ve earned from the iTunes Affiliate Program and any other LinkShare merchants through which you generate commission.

Why don’t I see my commission?

As an iTunes Affiliate, you will earn commission on sales generated on the U.S. iTunes Store. Links to the Apple Online Store or an international iTunes Store do not earn commission through the U.S. iTunes Affiliate Program. To earn commission on Apple Online Store sales, join the Apple Store Affiliate Program. To earn commission on international iTunes Store sales, apply to join the iTunes Affiliate Program in Europe, Japan, Australia, or New Zealand.

Apply to join the iTunes Affiliate Program in the U.S., Europe, Japan, Australia, or New Zealand.

Apply to join the Apple Store Affiliate Program.

Music on Your Website

Can I sell music and video on my website?

No. All transactions must take place on the iTunes Store.

What is an RSS feed? How do I add an RSS feed to my website?

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is an Internet technology that allows you to subscribe to content changes and display them on your website.

Using the iTunes Store RSS Feed Generator, you can easily create feeds to display iTunes Top Albums and Top Songs charts that match the look and feel of your website.

To create a feed, start on the Create Links page for the iTunes Affiliate Program at www.linkshare.com. Click the iTunes Store RSS Feed Generator link. Customize the feed by selecting the options for music you’d like to display, then click Generate to create your feed. Copy the URL to your custom RSS feed. The feed will be automatically updated to reflect changes in the iTunes Store.

To publish the feed to your website, you will need an RSS parser. If you need more information on RSS parsers and how to integrate RSS feeds into your website, we recommend the following resources:

If you have additional questions, please contact us at itunesaffiliates@apple.com.

How do I make an iMix playlist and promote it on my website?

Learn more about creating an iMix. Use the Individual Product Link creator on LinkShare to create an affiliate link you can use to promote your iMix. You can also embed iMix playlists on your Flash-enabled website, blog, or social networking profile using the “Publish to the Web” feature available on any iTunes iMix page in the iTunes Store.

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