Listening to music files is still tops, but that's slowly but surely starting to become the second-most-popular iTunes activity. August 5, 2013 6:26 AM PDT Apple's iTunes platform might have been started with music in mind, but over the last couple years, actually listening to tracks is becoming a less-popular activity, according to new research. Although in 2010 and 2011, 54 percent of U.S.-based iTunes users would head to the software to listen to music, this year, that figure has dropped to 41 percent, according to new data from research firm NPD. What's more, the number of people who are downloading free apps has jumped from 24 percent in 2010 to 35 percent of iTunes users in 2013. Although it appears apps might win out eventually, either activity is popular. According to NPD, iTunes now has 67 million users in the U.S., up from 50 million in 2010. Related stories Get two $25 iTunes gift cards for $40 Apple slips upcoming Radio service into latest iTunes beta Update to Apple Store app will offer free iTunes, App Store content -- report New album from ex-Groupon CEO fails to crack iTunes Top 100 Apple: Don't make nuclear weapons using iTunes Apple's iTunes platform was originally designed as a way for users to manage tracks and listen to songs. Over time, however, the platform has grown into a full-fledged marketplace, offering everything from movies, e-books, music, and podcasts. Free apps, however, are starting to become the most important downloads. According to NPD, 95 percent of iOS users download free apps to their devices, and average 35 free downloads to their handsets. Paid app downloads have declined from 72 percent in 2012 to 69 percent this year, according to NPD. Not surprisingly, games are most popular, with 81 percent of iOS users downloading free titles. Social-networking applications come in second with 70 percent usage. One other interesting tidbit on the state of music downloads: just 9 percent of U.S.-based iTunes users download a full digital album, compared to 29 percent who download individual songs.
Listening to music files is still tops, but that's slowly but surely starting to become the second-most-popular iTunes activity.
Apple's iTunes platform might have been started with music in mind, but over the last couple years, actually listening to tracks is becoming a less-popular activity, according to new research.
Although in 2010 and 2011, 54 percent of U.S.-based iTunes users would head to the software to listen to music, this year, that figure has dropped to 41 percent, according to new data from research firm NPD. What's more, the number of people who are downloading free apps has jumped from 24 percent in 2010 to 35 percent of iTunes users in 2013.
Although it appears apps might win out eventually, either activity is popular. According to NPD, iTunes now has 67 million users in the U.S., up from 50 million in 2010.
Related stories
- Get two $25 iTunes gift cards for $40
- Apple slips upcoming Radio service into latest iTunes beta
- Update to Apple Store app will offer free iTunes, App Store content -- report
- New album from ex-Groupon CEO fails to crack iTunes Top 100
- Apple: Don't make nuclear weapons using iTunes
Apple's iTunes platform was originally designed as a way for users to manage tracks and listen to songs. Over time, however, the platform has grown into a full-fledged marketplace, offering everything from movies, e-books, music, and podcasts. Free apps, however, are starting to become the most important downloads.
According to NPD, 95 percent of iOS users download free apps to their devices, and average 35 free downloads to their handsets. Paid app downloads have declined from 72 percent in 2012 to 69 percent this year, according to NPD.
Not surprisingly, games are most popular, with 81 percent of iOS users downloading free titles. Social-networking applications come in second with 70 percent usage.
One other interesting tidbit on the state of music downloads: just 9 percent of U.S.-based iTunes users download a full digital album, compared to 29 percent who download individual songs.
