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US Retail Books and Music - PPC Market Share Analysis May 2025

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.

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.

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Share of Clicks - Last month
Domain Share of clicks
guitarcenter.com 26.65
amazon.com 21.4
thriftbooks.com 6.91
etsy.com 5.18
christianbook.com 3.92
sweetwater.com 3.58
bradfordexchange.com 2.74
target.com 2.55
zazzle.com 1.79
walmart.com 1.54
others 23.74

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Guitar Center leads with 26.65% click share, followed by Amazon at 21.4%. Others collectively hold 23.74%, 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. 

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Share of Spend - Last Month
Date amazon.com etsy.com guitarcenter.com zazzle.com christianbook.com abebooks.com sweetwater.com bradfordexchange.com thriftbooks.com target.com
2025/05/01 17.78% 10.58% 9.76% 6.64% 1.97% 3.11% 4.67% 3.35% 4.3% 3.12%
2025/05/02 19.27% 10.35% 11.8% 4.38% 3.99% 5.8% 3.11% 2.41% 3.09% 3.88%
2025/05/03 16.04% 10.11% 11.09% 4.84% 5.93% 4.28% 3.09% 3.02% 4.88% 4.25%
2025/05/04 19.1% 8.85% 9.58% 5.4% 6.46% 5.59% 3.58% 2.12% 4.54% 3.87%
2025/05/05 18.91% 9.33% 11.88% 4.36% 4.87% 4.96% 3.9% 2.83% 3.82% 4.07%
2025/05/06 19.33% 12.34% 8.23% 4.28% 5.79% 3.13% 4.01% 2.32% 5.12% 3.54%
2025/05/07 21.41% 9.7% 10.11% 4.62% 3.23% 3.85% 3.21% 3.23% 5.81% 3.31%
2025/05/08 22.81% 7.18% 10.38% 3.75% 2.92% 3.33% 3.28% 2.61% 4.34% 4.27%
2025/05/09 22.97% 7.29% 9.08% 4.22% 4.94% 5.21% 3.65% 2.94% 3.73% 2.77%
2025/05/10 20.36% 10.25% 8.26% 4.62% 5.01% 5.09% 3.18% 2.83% 2.95% 3.54%
2025/05/11 21.94% 8.02% 8.86% 4.01% 3.95% 3.06% 3.45% 2.62% 2.52% 3.39%
2025/05/12 23.43% 9.26% 7.38% 4.76% 3.7% 4.18% 4.12% 1.66% 3.26% 2.03%
2025/05/13 22.06% 8.3% 8.41% 4.43% 2.85% 5.15% 3.62% 1.9% 4.35% 2.36%
2025/05/14 24.32% 11.22% 7.91% 3.84% 3.57% 3.27% 3.08% 1.8% 4.28% 2.58%
2025/05/15 22.31% 7.12% 9.03% 3.94% 3.97% 5.09% 3.96% 1.85% 3.47% 3.5%
2025/05/16 21.55% 10.65% 10.01% 5.35% 2.97% 4.43% 3.44% 2.79% 3.9% 2.77%
2025/05/17 23.77% 7.73% 9.25% 4.07% 4.45% 3.31% 5.07% 1.95% 3.97% 2.83%
2025/05/18 23.63% 8.97% 7.91% 5% 2.86% 4.66% 3.81% 1.66% 3.77% 3.43%
2025/05/19 21.11% 10.55% 8.13% 4.26% 5.12% 3.88% 3.36% 1.96% 2.89% 3.21%
2025/05/20 19.8% 9.23% 8.98% 5.03% 5.93% 3.33% 3.81% 3% 4.4% 2.16%
2025/05/21 19.65% 10.27% 7.53% 5.88% 4.91% 3.23% 3.55% 2.66% 4.81% 2.45%
2025/05/22 13.76% 12.3% 9.14% 5.42% 4.25% 4.49% 2.91% 2.64% 3.99% 3.47%
2025/05/23 16.19% 9.7% 8.56% 4.73% 5.17% 3.2% 2.75% 2.12% 5.99% 3.04%
2025/05/24 13.97% 11.66% 10.18% 4.14% 5.49% 4.53% 4.22% 2.6% 4.5% 2.58%
2025/05/25 15.08% 10.08% 12.51% 4.97% 3.1% 4.23% 3.17% 1.68% 3.84% 2.35%
2025/05/26 13.24% 9.17% 11.8% 4.77% 5.96% 7.12% 2.48% 2.89% 3.79% 2.29%
2025/05/27 14.59% 8.86% 14.49% 5.25% 2.94% 5.29% 2.9% 2.22% 5.53% 2.54%
2025/05/28 15.84% 11.14% 10.91% 5.87% 3.54% 3.85% 3.23% 3.03% 2.79% 3.82%
2025/05/29 13.67% 10.9% 9.74% 6.15% 2.8% 5.21% 3.13% 2.54% 3.63% 3.16%
2025/05/30 14.34% 11.25% 8.67% 6.38% 3.86% 3.59% 3.71% 3.39% 3.75% 2.42%
2025/05/31 16.28% 12.63% 6.55% 5.62% 4.58% 3.66% 3.52% 3.33% 3.3% 2.25%

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Amazon’s PPC spend peaked mid-May at 24.32%, then declined to 16.28%. Etsy’s share rose steadily, ending at 12.63%. Guitar Center fluctuated, closing at 6.55%. Zazzle’s share increased, finishing at 5.62%.

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. 

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Competitor Count - Last month
Date Competitor Count
2025/05/01 918
2025/05/02 882
2025/05/03 909
2025/05/04 909
2025/05/05 883
2025/05/06 912
2025/05/07 974
2025/05/08 951
2025/05/09 926
2025/05/10 915
2025/05/11 940
2025/05/12 947
2025/05/13 957
2025/05/14 958
2025/05/15 923
2025/05/16 916
2025/05/17 933
2025/05/18 945
2025/05/19 950
2025/05/20 912
2025/05/21 918
2025/05/22 970
2025/05/23 914
2025/05/24 911
2025/05/25 913
2025/05/26 909
2025/05/27 861
2025/05/28 872
2025/05/29 933
2025/05/30 848
2025/05/31 883

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

May began with 918 advertisers, fluctuating throughout. Peaks on May 7 (974) and May 22 (970) highlighted activity. The month concluded with 883 advertisers, reflecting a dynamic landscape.

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.

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Market Loss & Market Gains - Last month
Name Market Trend
guitarcenter.com 1.72%
etsy.com 0.89%
zazzle.com 0.51%
hosannarevival.com 0.42%
bradfordexchange.com 0.32%
sweetwater.com -0.23%
target.com -0.34%
barnesandnoble.com -0.69%
thriftbooks.com -1.21%
amazon.com -4.38%

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Guitarcenter.com surged with a 1.72% click share increase, while amazon.com faced a 4.38% decline.

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.

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Date amazon.com etsy.com guitarcenter.com sweetwater.com thriftbooks.com zazzle.com target.com christianbook.com walmart.com audible.com
2025/05/01 16.19% 8.2% 14.98% 7.97% 7.29% 3.35% 4.51% 1.49% 3.22% 1.93%
2025/05/02 19.69% 9.13% 15.61% 6.56% 4.58% 2.95% 5.43% 2.52% 2.65% 1.4%
2025/05/03 16.79% 9.25% 12.91% 6.06% 8.41% 2.66% 6.33% 3.75% 2.84% 1.73%
2025/05/04 19.49% 8.96% 12.08% 6.47% 6.27% 3.18% 6.44% 4.05% 3.29% 1.26%
2025/05/05 20.91% 8.29% 13.9% 6.98% 6.16% 2.51% 6.15% 2.96% 3.39% 1.04%
2025/05/06 19.75% 10.45% 9.28% 7.17% 8.89% 2.32% 5.83% 3.54% 2.56% 1.46%
2025/05/07 23.05% 8.98% 11.1% 6.3% 7.85% 2.86% 5.45% 2.02% 2.27% 1.87%
2025/05/08 23.63% 6.54% 11.94% 5.88% 6.32% 2.42% 5.98% 1.93% 3.15% 2.2%
2025/05/09 23.98% 7.57% 9.93% 6.61% 5.78% 2.74% 4.72% 3.21% 2.51% 2.54%
2025/05/10 22.26% 9.34% 10.01% 6.45% 4.32% 2.75% 5.88% 3.22% 3.31% 2.07%
2025/05/11 24.15% 7.75% 10.43% 6.23% 4.16% 2.35% 5.56% 2.54% 2.95% 1.74%
2025/05/12 26.21% 8.27% 8.54% 8.75% 4.18% 3.01% 3.54% 2.49% 3.01% 1.88%
2025/05/13 24.82% 7.62% 10.22% 6.26% 6.21% 2.69% 4.27% 2.03% 2.02% 1.94%
2025/05/14 28.38% 9.03% 8.34% 6.09% 6.99% 2.25% 4.4% 2.16% 3.31% 1.96%
2025/05/15 23.72% 6.83% 10.37% 6.18% 5.4% 2.4% 5.14% 2.51% 2.65% 2.71%
2025/05/16 23.42% 9.22% 10.62% 6.63% 7.29% 3.34% 4.33% 1.92% 2.8% 1.38%
2025/05/17 25.47% 7.2% 9.56% 8.17% 6.62% 2.51% 4.61% 2.63% 2.26% 1.55%
2025/05/18 25.04% 7.93% 8.63% 6.94% 5.86% 3.35% 5.34% 1.97% 3.06% 1.24%
2025/05/19 24.11% 9.3% 9.09% 6.68% 4.1% 2.4% 4.7% 3.11% 2.1% 1.15%
2025/05/20 22.08% 8.88% 9.9% 7.63% 6.08% 3.25% 3.56% 3.77% 2.7% 1.2%
2025/05/21 21.03% 9.57% 8.8% 7.19% 6.45% 3.86% 4.12% 3.05% 2.04% 1.22%
2025/05/22 14.56% 11.03% 11.05% 6.13% 6.43% 3.7% 5.41% 2.7% 3.42% 0.81%
2025/05/23 17% 9.02% 10.67% 5.17% 8.52% 3.1% 4.98% 3.41% 3.46% 0.82%
2025/05/24 15.23% 10.15% 11.5% 6.82% 6.82% 2.91% 4.43% 3.38% 3.79% 0.96%
2025/05/25 16.55% 8.86% 14.71% 6.22% 5.15% 3.57% 3.6% 2.16% 2.52% 2.31%
2025/05/26 15.01% 8.53% 15.39% 4.53% 5.42% 3.61% 3.73% 3.71% 2.36% 2.3%
2025/05/27 13.9% 8.67% 18.55% 5.49% 6.46% 3.75% 4.46% 2% 3.14% 1.77%
2025/05/28 15.69% 10.9% 13% 6.81% 3.6% 4.24% 5.65% 2.19% 3.62% 1.53%
2025/05/29 13.48% 10.65% 11.62% 6.41% 5.11% 4.67% 5.48% 1.75% 2.4% 2.16%
2025/05/30 14.69% 10.29% 10.87% 8.35% 5.41% 4.45% 3.97% 2.3% 2.6% 2.6%
2025/05/31 16.31% 11.19% 8.19% 7.81% 4.74% 4.19% 3.68% 3.09% 3.06% 2.24%

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Amazon’s impression share peaked mid-month at 28.38%, then declined to 16.31%. Etsy’s share rose steadily, ending at 11.19%. Guitar Center saw fluctuations, finishing at 8.19%. Sweetwater’s share varied, closing at 7.81%. Thriftbooks experienced ups and downs, ending at 4.74%. Zazzle’s share increased, reaching 4.19%. Target’s share fluctuated, closing at 3.68%. Christianbook’s share varied, ending at 3.09%. Walmart’s share remained steady, finishing at 3.06%. Audible’s share fluctuated, closing at 2.24%.

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.

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  1. 1
    Amazon.com® Official Site https://www.amazon.com › shop › amazon+usa

    Shop on Amazon — The best shopping & entertainment with Prime. Free, easy returns on millions of items. Browse & discover thousands of brands. Read customer reviews & find best sellers.

  2. 2
    BarnesandNoble Online Store | Shop BarnesandNoble Books https://www.barnesandnoble.com

    BarnesandNoble offers bestselling books, eBooks & collectibles with big savings. Discover new releases, classics & gifts—only at BarnesandNoble online store.

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

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

  4. 4
    Sweetwater Music & Pro Audio https://www.sweetwater.com

    Play Now, Pay Later — Check Out Sweetwater's Extensive Selection of Pro Audio Gear From the Top Brands! Buy With Complete Confidence Thanks to Our Hassle-Free...

  5. 5
    ThriftBooks - New & Used Books - Gently Used - Great Price https://www.thriftbooks.com

    New, used & rare books. ThriftBooks sells millions of books at the lowest everyday prices.

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

In the competitive world of Google PPC, Amazon leads with its promise of a seamless shopping experience and vast selection. Barnes & Noble entices book lovers with savings on bestsellers and collectibles. Guitar Center and Sweetwater cater to music enthusiasts, offering diverse gear and flexible payment options. ThriftBooks appeals with affordable, gently used books.

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The data on this page is just a sample of the billions of data points we hold at Adthena. The insights generated by Ask Arlo, leverage real-time GenAI to answer questions about your search data.

Our search consultants can introduce you to Whole Market View data that is specific to your organization, based on the size of the relevant search term and competitor universe, and the locations that you need monitoring.

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