iPod users avoiding iTunes Store

In spite of the fact that the Apple's iTunes Store dominates the market for legally downloaded music, only a fraction of iPod owners actually use the store for their audio needs, according to Jupiter Research.

A report by the research firm reveals that, on average, only 20 of the tracks on an iPod will be from the iTunes Store. The study also shows that users of the device much prefer to rip CD's they own, or download content from filesharing sites.

The report's authors estimate that during 2006, Europeans will fork out more than 385m euros (£260m) on digital music, most of which will be spent at Apple's iTunes Store. However, the study shows 83% of iPod owners don't regularly purchase digital music, if at all. Only a mere 17% buy and download music often, usually single tracks, at least once a month.

According to the study, only 5% of the music on an iPod will be bought from online music stores on average. The remainder will ripped from CD's or downloaded from peer-to-peer networks.

The report also warns that the importance of "free" to digital music fans should not be swept aside. Some firms have already made inroads towards a future of free digital music such as SpiralFrog, which has announced that it will use an ad-supported business model rather than charge consumers.

Source:
BBC