The iTunes Store leads the pack with 19 percent, Wal-Mart (which includes the brick-and-mortar stores as well as its online properties) is second with 15 percent, and Best Buy is third with 13 percent. Amazon is a distant fourth at 6 percent, trailed by the likes of Borders, Circuit City, and Barnes & Noble.
Congratulations, Apple! It’s always good when Wal-Mart’s monopsony power is reduced.
ME: From Hits -
CHANGING THEIR iTUNE: The Big Four music distributors confirm that Wal-Mart is still the #1 music retailer, not Apple’s iTunes, and are wondering where the NPD Group, which made the original claim, got its information. All four acknowledged that they are billing more with Wal-Mart than Steve Jobs’ online store. (4/8p)
The NPD Report was funny to me because of this line:
“[The Report] includes a screenshot of an Excel file showing the top ten music retailers in the US for January 2008, and Apple is at the top of the list.”
Right. NPD took a snapshot at music billing in January of 2008. Here’s what happens during that time:
A. iTunes sees redemption OUT THE ASS of iTunes Gift Cards from the Holidays
B. The Major Labels are facing huge returns (not a liability for iTunes) due to overshipping during the holiday buying season
C. The Major labels aren’t releasing new records (why would they?)
