One month after iTunes Plus introduced the country to unprotected EMI downloads, there is some proof that the change has been beneficial to EMI's digital shares. It is harder too tell, though, what impact the company's digital strategy has had on its overall market share (probably little to none).

The above graph shows cumulative, year-to-date market shares at the end of each month for EMI's digital, CD and overall album sales. Each of the first six months of the year is represented in the graph. Digital is in blue, CD is in red, overall is in white.

To account for the strength of its release schedule, which by itself could increase or decrease the company's market share, we have to look at how EMI's digital market share moved in relation to its CD market share.

Market shares actually peaked in February, which coincides with the release of Norah Jones' Not Too Late. The actual market share, though, is not what's important in this case. The impact of selling DRM-free downloads -- and the impact of iTunes Plus -- can be seen in the difference between CD and digital market shares. The difference between the blue (digital) and red (CD) lines decreased and is almost zero in June. The ground digital made up in June represents the increase in digital market share due to iTunes Plus.

In June, EMI's year-to-date digital album share rose 1.4% while its year-to-date CD market share dropped 3%. Because digital rose while CD dropped we can tell that iTunes Plus had an impact on EMI's digital sales.

[music jobs] HR Manager at EMI NA; New York, NY.