According to analyst company Forrester Research, their research showed that while the iTunes service saw healthy growth for much of the period, since January the monthly revenue has fallen by 65 per cent, with the average transaction size falling 17 per cent. The previous spring’s rebound wasn’t repeated this year. And it isn’t just Apple’s problem; Nielsen Soundscan indicates three consecutive quarters of flat or declining revenues for the sector as a whole.

Apple said the report is "simply incorrect", but will not divulge iTunes financial figures, according to a [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6175321.stm]BBC article[/url]. Apple says the [url=http://www.itunes.com]iTunes Store[/url] has sold in excess of 1.5 billion songs. While the company doesn't give separate financial data for the store, it has said that it made a profit in the three months to the end of September, according to the BBC.