iPods help boost eMusic up to No. 2
updated 11:00 am EDT, Tue August 1, 2006
iPods help boost eMusic
The NPD Group lists the online music store eMusic as having 11 percent of online music sales, despite a lack of support from major labels. Both iLounge and USA Today cite the unrestricted MP3 format as a key factor in this success: the lack of digital rights management means eMusic customers can easily transfer purchased music to their iPods or any other player they choose without using proprietary software. While a distant second to iTunes' 67 percent market share, eMusic is well ahead of challengers such as Napster and Real Rhapsody, which are tied at 4 percent and are saddled with DRM as well as iPod incompatibility.
