Amazon holds 22.5% of UK entertainment market

Amazon’s physical entertainment sales in the UK increased by nearly 5% in Q3, giving it a 22.5% share of the entertainment market. Latest data from Kantar Worldpanel shows that its lead has widened over its closest rival, Tesco, whose sales were down by 5.5% in the three months to the end of September. This left the supermarket giant with a 15% market share.

HMV maintained its position with 12.3% of the entertainment market, although it is still hoping to overtake Amazon as the UK’s main film and music retailer.

Fiona Keenan, strategic insight director, attributed Amazon’s success to a shift towards buying online: “Thanks to the rise of connected devices – 71% of individuals now own a smartphone and 57% own a tablet – this is a shift that we expect to continue.

“Amazon’s range of Fire tablets has given it another platform to promote its offering directly to consumers, and it appears to be working, as 15% of entertainment products sold on its site are purchased on a tablet.”

Source: Music Week