Free Music Downloads

In total, eMusic has now sold 250 million downloads since 2003, according to figures shared late last month. Others carrying second-place potential include Rhapsody (owned by MTV Networks and RealNetworks), though decisive comparison figures remain elusive.

Now, Amazon is once again getting the second-class treatment, specifically from the Wall Street Journal and Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. But this time, estimated shares are modest. The latest figures peg Amazon's market share at below 10 percent (at best), compared to a dominating, 70-plus percent chunk for Apple. Meanwhile, Amazon has yet to reveal sales figures, a situation that suggests lower-than-expected gains.

The modest showing is happening despite aggressive industry efforts to tilt the field away from Apple. The strategy includes withholding DRM-free licensing from the iTunes Store, at least outside of EMI Music. But the iTunes Store remains an entrenched competitor, one whose staying power is not reliant on protection technology, or the absence thereof.

That could be fueling a round of DRM-free discussions between Apple and majors Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and potentially EMI Music, though none of the parties have confirmed talks.