i don't know who couldn't believe that /. picked up this story, but I just saw it on the business segment on CNN. Apparently what they are banking on is that the vast majority of people won't actually redeem the free songs. The companies do not have to pay for them unless people actually use the vouchers. However, they did confirm that they paid full price for the songs (when they are eventually used).

inignoct wrote:
] [edit] i'll leave my original post below, but take w/ grain of
] salt. this is the NY Post after all, and i've seen no
] corroboration yet. perhaps i got over excited
] [/edit]
]
] man. looks like i'll be ordering me some mcflurry's.
]
] and also, holy shit !
]
] " Both Pepsi and McDonald's are paying Apple's retail price of
] 99 cents per song, sources say. And McDonald's has arranged to
] buy up to a billion songs to meet customer demand."
]
] That's some nice extra revenue, even if reality pushes the
] number down to, say, 300 million. that's amazing that they're
] paying full price, AND paying marketing. it's almost like,
] McD's and Pepsi are acting like Apple is a stronger trademark
] to capitalize on. or, at least, that iTunes/online music
] offers them some special benefits. Damn.

RE: New York Post Online Edition: business