iTunes Accounts for 28 Percent of U.S. Music Sales, Amazon Catches up to Walmart
iTunes Accounts for 28 Percent of U.S. Music Sales, Amazon Catches up to Walmart
Posted 05/27/2010 at 8:30am
| by Paul Lilly
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According to new numbers from the NPD Group, Apple's iTunes extended its lead over Walmart and now dominates the online music scene with a 70 percent share of the digital music market, while sales accounted for 28 percent of all music purchased during the first quarter of 2010.
Walmart sits it in a distant second place, a position it now shares with Amazon, which was able to gain 4 percentage points to tie Walmart with 12 percent of the market.
"Amazon's growth reflects a stronger position in both the CD and digital formats," Russ Crupnick, vice president of industry analysis for the NPD Group, said in a statement. "This dual-pronged approach of selling both digital music and CDs helps attract the most valuable and committed music buyer who prefers access to both formats."
Walmart held the top spot in physical CD sales with 17 percent of the market, though CD sales in general are declining. Digital music, meanwhile, made up 40 percent of the market in the first quarter of 2010, up significantly from 5 percent during the same quarter one year ago.
Image Credit: Apple
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popstop785
May 27, 2010 at 12:08pm
The reason I don't use Zune Marketplace is because they screwed up on my account. They seem to think my account is underage when it is attached to my XBL account which, since is was created years ago, has been of age for all videos. Even though months before the problem arose, I had no problem downloading any videos.
I called support once as directed and they didn't seem to understand what the problem was. That was over a year ago and I have since tossed in the towel on Zune. Maybe they have changed, maybe they haven't... I'm not motivated enough to find out at this point. Maybe one day. . .
lunchbox73
May 27, 2010 at 10:51am
What is a CD? Sounds familiar....
I pay $15 a month for my Zune pass. Unlimited downloads/streams and 10 songs a month to keep forever even if I cancel my subscription. Your move Apple.
mjfutures
May 27, 2010 at 11:31am
I was just about to put the same comment.
Zune @ 15 month, unlimited downloads/streams, use on multiple PCs, xbox 360, and 10 songs free per month to keep forever and play on any device.
hopefully Zune can pick up some momentum....the avgerage person with little tech interest only knows ipod though.
lunchbox73
May 27, 2010 at 1:39pm
I dunno, Zune has been around for almost 4 years and it seems 9 out of 10 people give me a blank stare when I say Zune.
bskoreyko
May 27, 2010 at 11:24am
If Zune were out in Canada there would be a ton of people using it over iTunes... (the device is out here but no online service, yet).
popstop785
May 27, 2010 at 10:46am
Apple seems to be very proprietary in my opinion. They want you to use their products and their accessories only. That is why I prefer a music service such as Rhapsody. I can put it on 3 PCs and 3 devices(Sansa, iPhone, etc.) with unlimited music for a monthly fee. And if I want to buy a song or two I can buy it in MP3 format with no DRM BS or specific player to play it. Now I am not sure how iTunes works these days but I remember that store/app/program to be very "Apple Only" and that was a huge turn off for me.
Simple people may be okay with Plug n go Apple stuff, but I am not. I LOVE choices and options. I don't like a company to force things down my throat. My Sansa 8gb MP3 player is nice because I can take a cd, rip it, then literally drop and drag the songs I wish to add. I don't need a program designed to do it (like you have to use iTunes to get anything off a iPhone to a PC... the sync time sucks).
I like choices, Apple refuses to give them. Therefore, I will hate Apple until they stop being so proprietary and learn the definition of Freedom.
bskoreyko
May 27, 2010 at 10:15am
In order to use Apple downloaded music you require the following:
- iTunes (duh, but you need either a PC or a MAC)
- iPod/iTouch/iPhone (play your music on the go)
- FM transmitter or After Market car stereo deck with iPod/USB in (most newer cars come with this built in)
- Apple Sound Dock, various brands which allows you to use your iPod/iTouch/iPhone like a stereo
- Apple Sound Bridge (Harmon Kardon includes this with their high end receivers)
Anyway my point to this comment is that in order to play music on the go, in my car or in my home on my home theater system I have to buy at least 3 different devices compatible with the proprietary format Apple distributes their digital downloads in... NOW I don't mind that the record companies like Apple for protecting the music/videos/etc BUT if I buy the song I shouldn't have to buy every STUPID APPLE device out there to play it where I want when I want!!!
I think there is a huge market that record companies are missing out on because of this, there are a lot of people who don't buy Apple products for many reasons and my above comment is probably one of them. While Apple products are cool and very flashy they are over priced and locked down...
Anyone who wants to argue other wise is a Apple Fan Boy or Fan Girl... When I went to Digital Media Arts school we learned Adobe CS on MACS and it was sweet but the PC worked just as well and cost much less (usually half the price - oh and don't give me that VIRUS CRAP EITHER... MACS can get VIRUSES but are less likely to...).
Thanks, that's my rant for the day :)
Brendan Skoreyko
http://www.yourtechies.ca
http://www.yourhostingpro.ca
http://www.sdmsite.com
Keith E. Whisman
May 27, 2010 at 11:08am
You took the words right out of my mouth.
WWW.ThePirateBay.org doesn't seem to charge anything for their music. I'll keep shopping at the pirate bay.
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