iTunes Passes Wal-Mart As Top U.S. Music Provider

Providing further evidence that the digital medium has overtaken physical CDs, an independent study found that iTunes passed Wal-Mart in music sales during the months of January and February, making Apple's service the largest music provider in the U.S. It was the first time in iTunes history that they topped the sales charts. The study was announced the same day iTunes learned they'd have to compete against a new MySpace music service, which may effect numbers in the coming months. The impending new albums from Madonna, Mariah Carey and other marquee acts could shift the scales back to the physical product over the coming months.

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Song Stories

“Is It True”

Brenda Lee | 1964

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."

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