Study: Online music stores falling short
New research blasts Net music stores for confusing navigation and locking users into proprietary formats.
A study from market research firm Shelley Taylor & Associates blasts music stores for confusing navigation and locking users into proprietary formats and music players.
"As a result, users' initial enthusiasm is being deflated as they realize they have been conned--there are more limitations imposed on legitimate digital downloads, media players and portable devices than advertised," Taylor said.
The market-leading iTunes store, driven by the success of Apple's iPod portable music device, lost out on the top ranking to France's Fnac in Taylor's study of 15 of the best music stores.
Apple and iTunes "need to watch their back and continue to develop, especially since they've never been good at the e-commerce and shopping," Taylor said. She cited several key Fnac features that are lacking in iTunes, including discounts for buying multiple tracks and the ability to download music videos and purchase concert tickets.
Fnac is part of retailer Pinault-Printemps-Redoute.
The study gave British retailer HMV the lowest marks among online music stores for being difficult to access, providing scant artist information, and confusing navigation.
Taylor said Sony's Sonic Stage was the worst music software among those studied because it forces users into using a proprietary music format, has poor playlist functions, and commits user interface sins that make it difficult to use.
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