Apple Now Third Biggest U.S. Music Retailer
Apple has become the third largest music retailer in the U.S., besting Amazon in fourth, according to the latest quarterly survey by NPD Group.
Apple now has a 10 percent market share behind Wal-Mart (15.8 percent) and Best Buy (13.8).
Previously in fifth place, Apple leapt over Target and Amazon.
NPD said Apple benefitted from sales of iPods over the holidays, and a slowdown in CD sales. Year-on0year, CD sales are down by 20 percent in the first quarter, according ot Nielsen Soundscan.
Apple and Amazon are the only companies in the top 10 that sell digital downloads.
Leander Kahney is the editor and publisher of Cult of Mac, and author of three books about technology culture: 
