Apple users are embracing the App Economy with abandon. Indeed, by 2015, income from apps will exceed that of iTunes music downloads, one analyst projects.
While iTunes digital music sales appear to have leveled-off, demand for apps is sharply rising. “By the slope of the trend lines, it would appear that app income will exceed music income within three years,” according to independent analyst Horace Dediu. Using data from Apple’s quarterly statement and comments from CEO Steve Jobs at the recent WWDC, the analyst arrived at the projection.
Although iTunes has sold apps for just three years, each iTunes account has downloaded 62 apps versus 67 songs. “Remarkable parity in such a short time,” Dediu writes. When both music and apps sales are combined Apple has earned $16.6 billion since the iTunes store opened.
However, that figure is likely to skyrocket as the Cupertino, Calif. company shift software sales to the Mac App Store. The first test of this change will come in July when Apple sells Lion exclusively through the App Store. Additionally, Mac App Store apps are frequently more expensive than iOS-based apps, further boosting revenue.
The Dediu figures also don’t include a growing category of video and e-book sales through the App Store.
What do you think? Are you buying more apps than music these days? Anecdotally, it seems like many of Cult of Mac’s writers are. What about you?
