Apple stretches music lead

Apple is continuing its dominance of the retail music market, once again claiming the top spot in the US.

The company held off retail giant Wal-Mart to keep its spot at the top of the list in the first half of 2008, according to a report by research firm NPD Group.

Retail chains Best Buy and Target took the fifth and third spots respectively, while Amazon moved from fifth to fourth place on the list.

The results mark the second straight period in which Apple has held the top spot in the NPD studies. Earlier this year, the company moved into the lead, becoming the first online service ever to claim the top overall retail spot.

NPD expects Apple to keep that title for some time.

"We expect Apple will consolidate its lead in the retail music market, as CD sales continue to slow," said NPD Group entertainment industry analyst Ross Crupnick.

The research firm also sees a bright future for Amazon, which last year launched its own DRM-free music store.

"Amazon's CD buyers tend to be older, so they haven't abandoned the CD format to the extent seen in the average music buyer," explained Crupnick.

"Plus Amazon's successful introduction of its digital download store will help the company improve its position in the future."