Apple takes bigger bite out of smaller pie

PIE IS SHRINKING BUT INCREASINGLY APPLE: The good news is that downloads grew $363 million to $4.3 billion worldwide in 2009. The bad news is that they were relatively flat in the U.S., with just 1.1% year-over-year growth. These stats, supplied by the IFPI, also reveal that the iTunes Store accounted for more than a quarter of total digital and retail U.S. sales. As reported by paidcontent.co.uk and picked up by AppleInsider.com, global digital music sales grew 9.2% in 2009, and now make up more than a quarter of total music income—which decreased by 7.2% to $17 billion. "The industry must hope Apple innovation can provide it with another shot in the arm," author Robert Andrews wrote in the IFPI report. "The iTunes Store boosted sales after its launch in 2003—so maybe a subscription iTunes offering can do it again." (4/29a)