iTunes No. 3 music retailer in U.S.

Market research firm NPD Group says that Apple’s iTunes was the number 3 retailer in the United States, reports AP. “iTunes had a 9.8 percent market share in the first quarter, ranking behind Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s 15.8 percent and Best Buy Co.’s 13.8 percent, according to The NPD Group. Online retailer Amazon.com’s share was 6.7 percent, slightly ahead of Target’s 6.6 percent, NPD said. The firm counted every 12 tracks purchased online as equivalent to an album in compact disc format, said Russ Crupnick, NPD’s vice president.