Labels keep courting iTunes shoppers as streaming dominance stalls

Even as playlists and subscription services dominate the conversation, the old iTunes storefront still pulls enough attention to keep major labels in the game. Because many listeners remain outside the subscription ecosystem, a single album purchase still carries weight far beyond a handful of streams, prompting marketers to craft exclusive bundles and alternate versions for release weeks. The strategy turns the download into a badge of ownership, rewarding fans who prefer to hold the whole collection in their library. As a result, new releases often arrive with multiple editions, each promising something unique for the buyer who still clicks 'Buy' instead of 'Add to library.' The continued relevance of that purchase model reminds us that the music market is still split between streaming and ownership, and record companies are quick to exploit both sides.