I want my digital information goods

It’s been a while since I wrote a post, so today I’m going to bombard you with three posts (look out!).

A few stories I saw on the interwebs this week have compelled me to write about developments in the use of digital information goods by consumers. First, iTunes has just passed Wal-mart to become the #1 music retailer (via Ars Technica) in the US. Just a few months ago, iTunes passed Best Buy to become #2, and the continued growth of their sales (combined with the decline of CD sales across all retailers) has pushed them to #1 fairly quickly. More and more people are purchasing (not just stealing) their music in purely digital form. This bodes well for the continued slow death of the CD and maybe, just maybe, the increased profits from lower manufacturing, inventory, and transportation costs (see digital info goods are helping the environment!) with the decrease in physical CD production will mollify the RIAA. Also, Amazon’s strategy of selling both CDs and DRM-free mp3s will likely payoff in the long-run since they can hedge their bets until the transition to digital is complete.