TechNewsWorld reports that Apple's iTunes Music Service remains well in the lead of legal music download services.
- The first to take on Apple was BuyMusic.com in July. It expected 1 million daily song downloads. "We're not achieving that at all," says BuyMusic CEO Scott Blum. "I've spoken with my competitors, and we're nowhere near (Apple's) numbers."
The article cites first mover advantage, ease of use, the iPod and Apple's marketing as reasons for the success of the iTunes Music Store.
More players will be entering the market in 2004, however, and the article cautions that Apple's closed model (iTunes<->iPod) could backfire in the longrun. According to one analyst, "They've got to keep the mindshare of the public and keep them believing they have to have an iPod. That's the only way they can stay ahead."
