US Retail Books and Music - PPC Market Share Analysis March 2026

Leveraging Adthena’s Whole Market View, this analysis explores recent trends in Google Ads for the US Books and Music category from the last month. Our Data Analyst, Ask Arlo provides commentary on key findings.

Books and Music – US

Google AI Overview visibility for Retail Books and Music US

See how often AIOs appear and how search intent is distributed across buying signals.

AIO Frequency

How often a Google AI overview appears on search terms relevant to this category.

Frequency Percentage
Frequency 20.3133218427
79.6866781573
20%

Complex Query Frequency

A complex query is a longer, more detailed search that often contains multiple keywords, specific conditions, or multi-part questions.

Frequency Percentage
Frequency 14
86
14%

Search Intent Distribution

Breakdown of search queries by their underlying goal.

Intent Distribution
Investigational 9%
Transactional 9%
Navigational 35%
Seasonal 4%
Local 1%
Problem Solving 3%

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Market Exposure

Share of Clicks for top 10 US Retail Books and Music brands

Here are the Top 10 competitors in the industry by Share of Clicks for the last month.

Share of Clicks - Last month
Share of Clicks - Last month
Domain Share of clicks
guitarcenter.com 37.3
amazon.com 13.47
thriftbooks.com 3.52
rakuten.com 3.34
sweetwater.com 3.07
audible.com 3
etsy.com 2.88
target.com 2.31
calendars.com 2.19
walmart.com 1.96
others 26.96
  • guitarcenter.com - 37.3%
  • amazon.com - 13.47%
  • thriftbooks.com - 3.52%
  • rakuten.com - 3.34%
  • sweetwater.com - 3.07%
  • audible.com - 3%
  • etsy.com - 2.88%
  • target.com - 2.31%
  • calendars.com - 2.19%
  • walmart.com - 1.96%
  • others - 26.96%

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Guitarcenter.com leads with 37.3% click share, followed by Amazon at 13.47%. Others collectively hold 26.96%, showcasing diverse competition.

Market Exposure

Share of Spend for the top 10 US Retail Books and Music brands

Curious about your market position? Here you can see the Top 10 competitors in the industry by Share of Spend for the last month. 

Share of Spend - Last Month
Share of Spend - Last Month
Date amazon.com guitarcenter.com abebooks.com audible.com sweetwater.com thriftbooks.com zazzle.com etsy.com target.com walmart.com
2026/03/01 9.65% 10.01% 5.18% 5.93% 4.11% 5.86% 3.63% 3.93% 2.28% 4.82%
2026/03/02 9.66% 9.04% 6.03% 3.94% 4.21% 4.06% 3.2% 5.7% 3.24% 5.73%
2026/03/03 9.72% 9.26% 4.89% 3.9% 5.12% 5.03% 3.7% 5.62% 3.17% 4.32%
2026/03/04 8.75% 10.48% 4.99% 4.66% 5.9% 4.19% 4.48% 5.4% 2.84% 4.76%
2026/03/05 9.77% 9.11% 6.36% 5.45% 5.57% 3.84% 3.52% 4.65% 2.84% 5.39%
2026/03/06 11.42% 10.51% 6.09% 5.88% 4.22% 3.1% 4.38% 5.68% 3.11% 2.81%
2026/03/07 14.16% 12.55% 7.9% 5.03% 3.3% 4.23% 2.37% 6.1% 2.74% 2.72%
2026/03/08 11.79% 9.9% 5.65% 4.11% 2.76% 4.68% 4.68% 5.41% 3.13% 5.15%
2026/03/09 14.36% 9.41% 8.27% 4.64% 4.09% 4.03% 4.83% 5.04% 2.18% 2.91%
2026/03/10 12.57% 9.8% 6.17% 4.63% 5.75% 4.03% 3.21% 5.22% 2.45% 3.35%
2026/03/11 12.12% 12.83% 5.42% 4.86% 3.09% 5.21% 4.34% 4.92% 2.85% 3.26%
2026/03/12 11.8% 11.06% 7.5% 6.24% 3.35% 3.76% 3.82% 3.82% 2.14% 1.89%
2026/03/13 12.94% 13.3% 7.09% 5.31% 5.2% 4.2% 3.48% 5.75% 2.05% 2.35%
2026/03/14 12.95% 12.4% 5.78% 7.62% 4.31% 3.56% 3.76% 5.39% 2.8% 3%
2026/03/15 11.67% 10.94% 5.43% 6.81% 3.57% 4.4% 3.73% 5.25% 3.66% 3.43%
2026/03/16 11.97% 9.05% 7.24% 7.34% 4.71% 4.88% 3.93% 5.64% 3.32% 2.45%
2026/03/17 6.69% 8.91% 3.69% 7.67% 4.48% 4.14% 3.84% 5.35% 5.39% 3.98%
2026/03/18 9.91% 10% 5.15% 7.71% 4% 3.5% 3.94% 5.93% 3.78% 3.54%
2026/03/19 9.42% 11.19% 5.26% 8.45% 5.33% 3.85% 3.23% 5.96% 3.37% 2.4%
2026/03/20 9.71% 9.73% 6.4% 8.74% 3.72% 5.97% 2.74% 4.88% 4.09% 3.17%
2026/03/21 11.76% 11.34% 7.67% 7.64% 3.8% 3.33% 4.32% 3.65% 2.04% 1.97%
2026/03/22 11.69% 9.22% 5.63% 6.01% 3.91% 6.11% 4.04% 5.73% 3.11% 1.42%
2026/03/23 11.08% 9.46% 5.17% 9.42% 4.25% 3.42% 3.82% 4.55% 2.17% 3.21%
2026/03/24 13.71% 8.41% 5.82% 9.34% 4.38% 3.62% 3.79% 4.36% 2.98% 2.03%
2026/03/25 9.65% 10.09% 5.76% 8.32% 4.58% 2.87% 3.48% 5.4% 4.69% 2.93%
2026/03/26 10.85% 12.78% 7.12% 5.76% 5.63% 3.45% 2.65% 4.96% 4.94% 2.86%
2026/03/27 10.58% 14.17% 6.07% 7.54% 4.39% 2.75% 2.37% 3.59% 2.57% 3.01%
2026/03/28 11.49% 12.97% 6.69% 8.16% 3.91% 3.77% 3.06% 4.2% 1.37% 2.81%
2026/03/29 12.19% 8.32% 6.44% 6.89% 2.06% 3.76% 3.01% 5.14% 3.67% 4.35%
2026/03/30 10.76% 10.23% 5.11% 7.23% 5.09% 8.5% 3.77% 4.41% 2.56% 2.91%
2026/03/31 11.5% 10.37% 7.44% 6.85% 6.11% 4.78% 4.63% 3.11% 2.31% 2.18%
  • amazon.com
  • guitarcenter.com
  • abebooks.com
  • audible.com
  • sweetwater.com
  • thriftbooks.com
  • zazzle.com
  • etsy.com
  • target.com
  • walmart.com

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Amazon’s PPC spend surged mid-March, peaking at 14.36%. Guitar Center followed closely, reaching 14.17%. Audible’s spend climbed steadily, ending at 6.85%. March concluded with Amazon leading, Guitar Center and Audible trailing.

Market Exposure

Competitor Count for US Retail Books and Music

Ever wondered how many competitors you’re up against in your industry? Well look no further, here we can see the number of advertisers bidding over the last month. 

Competitor Count - Last month
Competitor Count - Last month
Date Competitor Count
2026/03/01 630
2026/03/02 595
2026/03/03 636
2026/03/04 640
2026/03/05 621
2026/03/06 538
2026/03/07 489
2026/03/08 481
2026/03/09 507
2026/03/10 504
2026/03/11 504
2026/03/12 521
2026/03/13 501
2026/03/14 523
2026/03/15 495
2026/03/16 521
2026/03/17 710
2026/03/18 579
2026/03/19 581
2026/03/20 575
2026/03/21 501
2026/03/22 503
2026/03/23 560
2026/03/24 506
2026/03/25 545
2026/03/26 531
2026/03/27 523
2026/03/28 513
2026/03/29 504
2026/03/30 526
2026/03/31 543

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

March began with 630 advertisers, fluctuating throughout, peaking at 710 on March 17. The month concluded with 543 advertisers, reflecting dynamic market shifts.

Campaign Efficiency

Market Loss & Market Gains for US Retail Books and Music

Here we’re looking at the Top 10 biggest industry movers by market share gains and losses for the last 30 days.

Market Loss & Market Gains - Last month
Market Loss & Market Gains - Last month
Name Market Trend
guitarcenter.com 1.63%
audible.com 0.8%
barnesandnoble.com 0.29%
thriftbooks.com 0.22%
papersource.com 0.21%
etsy.com -0.22%
walmart.com -0.23%
bookoutlet.com -0.27%
temu.com -0.3%
calendars.com -0.73%

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Guitarcenter.com soared with a 1.63 increase, while calendars.com plummeted by -0.73. Audible.com also rose by 0.8, contrasting with temu.com’s -0.3 drop.

Campaign Efficiency

US Retail Books and Music Share of Impressions

Take a look at the Top 10 competitors in the industry by Share of Impressions over the last month.

Date guitarcenter.com sweetwater.com amazon.com thriftbooks.com audible.com etsy.com target.com walmart.com christianbook.com ebay.com
2026/03/01 14.32% 7.34% 6.76% 9.45% 5.31% 5.04% 2.88% 5.96% 1.46% 3.82%
2026/03/02 12.19% 7.57% 5.95% 6.1% 3.38% 8.19% 4.28% 8.14% 2.18% 5%
2026/03/03 13.06% 8.82% 6.81% 8.26% 3.68% 6.97% 5.17% 5.54% 1.03% 3.81%
2026/03/04 15.6% 10.68% 5.44% 5.53% 4.66% 6.36% 4.16% 5.93% 1.49% 2.47%
2026/03/05 13.87% 11.03% 6.21% 4.92% 4.9% 6.62% 4.09% 7.53% 1.58% 3.58%
2026/03/06 18.03% 7.8% 7.87% 4.49% 5.02% 8.74% 5.08% 3.66% 1.91% 4.17%
2026/03/07 21.25% 6.05% 9.81% 4.89% 2.89% 10.32% 5.36% 3.65% 1.35% 3.24%
2026/03/08 14.58% 5.42% 8.67% 6.97% 2.93% 8.38% 6.13% 5.46% 2.09% 1.95%
2026/03/09 16.77% 7.55% 9.88% 5.35% 3.4% 9.22% 3.42% 3.32% 1.55% 2.23%
2026/03/10 14.37% 11.27% 10.08% 4.7% 4.06% 7.82% 3.92% 4.39% 2.32% 2.56%
2026/03/11 21.45% 5.31% 8.97% 6.66% 3.29% 7.04% 4.76% 4.42% 1.85% 1.77%
2026/03/12 19.89% 6.51% 9.58% 5.09% 4.67% 6.08% 3.66% 2.53% 2% 3.69%
2026/03/13 22.96% 9.95% 8.78% 4.68% 4% 8.87% 3.47% 2.71% 1.44% 2.38%
2026/03/14 19.05% 7.54% 8.33% 4.8% 6.08% 8.4% 4.92% 3.8% 1.59% 2.99%
2026/03/15 15.7% 6.09% 9.13% 6.23% 6.86% 7.55% 5.62% 4.37% 2.04% 0.91%
2026/03/16 13.87% 8.18% 8.29% 6.74% 7.38% 9.45% 6.56% 2.95% 1.04% 2.67%
2026/03/17 11.65% 7.63% 4.14% 6.1% 8.34% 7.03% 7.61% 5.4% 1.45% 3.15%
2026/03/18 15.81% 6.47% 6.6% 3.77% 9.06% 8.1% 6.05% 4.44% 1.61% 3.18%
2026/03/19 17.1% 8.98% 6.15% 5.21% 8.66% 7.9% 4.91% 2.86% 1.01% 3.16%
2026/03/20 16.57% 6.64% 6.77% 7.73% 6.63% 7.84% 7.01% 4.78% 1.2% 2.31%
2026/03/21 21.38% 7.11% 9.97% 4.28% 6.22% 6.21% 3.55% 2.31% 1.5% 2.9%
2026/03/22 15.02% 7.51% 11.76% 8.48% 4.53% 8.73% 3.86% 2.08% 2.34% 3.49%
2026/03/23 16.75% 7.96% 8.61% 4.81% 9.87% 7.75% 3.04% 4.46% 1.25% 2.23%
2026/03/24 13.88% 9.15% 10.4% 5.37% 7.91% 7.31% 4.54% 2.59% 1.55% 2.14%
2026/03/25 15.91% 8.28% 6.78% 3.76% 7.76% 8.97% 7.68% 4.01% 1.79% 3.98%
2026/03/26 20.76% 9.75% 6.7% 4.5% 5.67% 8.11% 6.87% 4.19% 1.87% 2.45%
2026/03/27 23.77% 8.36% 7.49% 3.83% 6.29% 5.3% 4.88% 5.67% 2.08% 1.16%
2026/03/28 22.56% 7.02% 8.32% 5.98% 6.9% 7.35% 2.65% 3.79% 1.58% 2.09%
2026/03/29 13.12% 3.5% 9.15% 5.49% 6.18% 9.72% 5.76% 6.78% 3.39% 2.64%
2026/03/30 14.61% 8.4% 7.36% 14.34% 5.7% 7.06% 5.12% 5.19% 1.55% 3%
2026/03/31 17.49% 13.42% 8.24% 7.02% 4.77% 4.74% 4.52% 2.87% 1.79% 1.69%
  • guitarcenter.com
  • sweetwater.com
  • amazon.com
  • thriftbooks.com
  • audible.com
  • etsy.com
  • target.com
  • walmart.com
  • christianbook.com
  • ebay.com

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Guitarcenter.com led March with fluctuating impressions, peaking at 23.77% on the 27th. Sweetwater.com saw a late surge, ending at 13.42%. Amazon.com maintained steady growth, closing at 8.24%.

Campaign Efficiency

Google Text Ad Copy Insights & Creative Trends for US Retail Books and Music

Ever wondered how your rivals’ ads are doing? Here we can see the top-performing ads in the industry over the last month.

Google Text Ad Copy Insights & Creative Trends for US Retail Books and Music - Last month
  1. 1
    Buy eGift Cards at Amazon http://www.amazon.com

    For Hundreds of Occasions — Delivery by email can be immediate or scheduled. Gift cards never expire and carry no fees. Fast shipping. Try Prime for free.

  2. 2
    Harry Potter Audio Collection - The Full-Cast Audio Editions https://www.audible.com

    Explore the new full-cast audio editions of Harry Potter to add to your library. Listen to Harry Potter full-cast audio editions on Audible.

  3. 3
    GuitarCenter.com https://www.guitarcenter.com › official_site

    Shop New & Used Music Gear — Find All Your Music Needs In One Place. Shop Instruments, Pro Audio & More Today! Your One-Stop Shop For New & Used Music Gear. Shop Your Favorite Brands At Guitar Center. Pro Coverage Plan.

  4. 4
    Rakuten.com | Online & In-Store Cash Back https://www.rakuten.com

    Get Cash Back at 3,500+ stores on this Season's Best Gifts, Clothes, Electronics and More. Higher Prices Got You Down? Join Rakuten for Free and Get Cash Back on Everyday Purchases.

  5. 5
    Sweetwater Music & Pro Audio | In Stock & Ready to Ship https://www.sweetwater.com

    Check Out Sweetwater's Extensive Selection of Pro Audio Gear From the Top Brands! Browse...

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

In the bustling world of Google PPC, Amazon entices with versatile eGift cards, while Audible captivates with Harry Potter’s full-cast audio. Guitar Center and Sweetwater compete for music enthusiasts, offering diverse gear. Rakuten lures shoppers with enticing cash-back deals.

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