Posted on by glennm

This day was inevitable. Apple announced this afternoon that its iTunes Music Store and MP3/AAC digital downloads have overtaken Wal*Mart as the nation’s top music retailer. [Reuters.com]. That is only five or so years after the concept of paid digital distribution via the Internet actually became a reality. And it was predicted here by yours truly.

Note, unsurprisingly, even the "with it" music industry analysts are really Neanderthals on this subject.

"People have long talked about the shift to digital music sales but this seems to be a symbol it is actually happening," said Steve Knopper, a Rolling Stone magazine music business reporter who is writing a book on the music industry in the digital age.

Ah, hey, its not just a shift that "is happening," it’s already happened.  Disks are just so 20th century.  There’s no albums only playlists, no Tower Records only MP3s.  Soon there may not even be any record labels if those companies do not embrace the new distribution models available to their artists.  And the movie studios will be next if they continue to fight a rear-guard battle against technology.