iTunes is Number 1 Music Retailer in US

[zombitronic]

According to Ars Technica, Apple has surpassed Wal-Mart as the #1 music retailer in the US.

The news was announced in an e-mail sent this afternoon to some Apple employees, a copy of which was seen by Ars Technica. It 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. 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. Rhapsody is in the tenth slot with 1 percent.

 

[ArmyKnight12]

Great news. Awesome Job Apple!

 

[Abstract]

It was just a spike due to all those people cashing in on those iTunes Gift cards. It hasn't happened again. I wonder what their sales figures were in March? Sure, you can argue that others also have gift cards, but they're not as heavily advertised as the iTMS gift cards are, or as readily available from stores. They're even available in department stores in Australia.

Also, Amazon sells more than CDs and movies, so their gift cards don't end up going entirely to music.

I think when Apple really does top the sales charts in a typical month like February, March, April, etc, then we'll have a small virtual parade here at MacRumours. It'll be huge news. Until then.....we'll have to wait. They are definitely #2, though.