http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1050772/uitabbarcontroller-with-none-selected-controller
you can select a view controller that isn't shown in the tab barbut still in the viewControllers array, and may be this is how it'sdone in the iPod/music app. So essentially make a view controllerfor a tab that isn't selectable from the tab bar by the user, andselect that view controller programatically.
as:
self.tabBarController.selectedViewController =splashScreenControllerTh atHasNoTab;