Walmart to close MP3 store

DOWN & OUT: Walmart is getting out of the music download business after its nearly eight-year-old MP3 store proved to be a non-starter. The big box retailer recently sent a letter to its distribution and licensing partners revealing its decision to close up shop, and Digital Music News got hold of it. “After eight years in business, the Walmart Music Downloads Store located at mp3.walmart.com will close on August 28, 2011,” the letter read. “All content in the Store will be disabled and no longer available for download from the store. The sale of physical record music products on Walmart.com as well as in Wal-Mart U.S. retail stores will remain unaffected. Walmart Soundcheck (soundcheck.walmart.com) will remain operational as a live streaming site without any download options.” Walmart's share of the digital music market was down to less than 1% by the end of 2010, AllThingsD reported, citing NPD stats, putting it behind Amazon, Zune, Rhapsody and Napster. What we’re wondering is, when is Walmart gonna decide once and for all how to spell its own name? (8/10a)