US Retail Books and Music - PPC Market Share Analysis October 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.

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 12.6890737527
87.3109262473
12%

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 27
73
27%

Search Intent Distribution

Breakdown of search queries by their underlying goal.

Intent Distribution
Investigational 20%
Transactional 13%
Navigational 11%
Seasonal 7%
Local 0%
Problem Solving 4%

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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 15.77
thriftbooks.com 10.82
amazon.com 9.19
walmart.com 5.06
sweetwater.com 5.02
target.com 4.89
calendars.com 4.28
etsy.com 3.37
zazzle.com 3.28
audible.com 2.9
others 35.42
  • guitarcenter.com - 15.77%
  • thriftbooks.com - 10.82%
  • amazon.com - 9.19%
  • walmart.com - 5.06%
  • sweetwater.com - 5.02%
  • target.com - 4.89%
  • calendars.com - 4.28%
  • etsy.com - 3.37%
  • zazzle.com - 3.28%
  • audible.com - 2.9%
  • others - 35.42%

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Guitar Center leads with 15.77% click share, followed by ThriftBooks at 10.82%. Amazon holds 9.19%, while ‘others’ collectively capture 35.42%.

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 guitarcenter.com amazon.com thriftbooks.com calendars.com walmart.com sweetwater.com zazzle.com audible.com christianbook.com zzounds.com
2025/10/01 16.1% 4.85% 7.99% 2.6% 10.02% 6.72% 2.47% 3.23% 1.47% 4.27%
2025/10/02 18.08% 7.24% 7.55% 2.71% 7.86% 4.88% 3.49% 2.3% 1.95% 1.92%
2025/10/03 23.57% 10.46% 15.9% 1.95% 3.23% 4.63% 2.87% 1.56% 1.46% 1.44%
2025/10/04 23.74% 11.3% 11.58% 1.12% 5.67% 3.43% 4.5% 1.76% 1.14% 2.35%
2025/10/05 15.28% 11.46% 9.68% 3.1% 5.86% 5.63% 3.6% 3.65% 2.94% 2.11%
2025/10/06 19.72% 11.38% 13.43% 3.11% 4% 6.95% 3.7% 3.57% 1.41% 0.65%
2025/10/07 15.95% 14.03% 11.85% 2.88% 5.53% 5.51% 3.35% 2.93% 1.09% 1.41%
2025/10/08 21.97% 11.55% 10.33% 3.09% 5.42% 4.21% 3.95% 2.64% 1.07% 1.49%
2025/10/09 20.86% 8.65% 12.04% 1.18% 5.43% 7.57% 3.73% 2.36% 1.3% 1.55%
2025/10/10 19.15% 11.44% 9.13% 3.75% 6.51% 7.8% 4.01% 1.75% 1.18% 1.48%
2025/10/11 18.31% 16.16% 12.16% 4.41% 3.91% 5.71% 3.55% 2.13% 1.1% 0.57%
2025/10/12 13.69% 16.93% 12.68% 6.99% 5.87% 4.45% 3.58% 1.47% 1.01% 0.86%
2025/10/13 13.61% 20.27% 9.47% 3.51% 3.69% 7.13% 3.5% 2.83% 1.21% 1.26%
2025/10/14 11.63% 21.46% 10.34% 1.94% 4.1% 5.81% 4.92% 3% 1.12% 0.47%
2025/10/15 14.53% 20.66% 8.64% 2.32% 5.62% 4.6% 3.51% 2.52% 1.4% 0.69%
2025/10/16 14.44% 21.83% 8.93% 2.24% 5.41% 5.6% 4.5% 2.5% 1.33% 0.7%
2025/10/17 12.99% 14.8% 8.07% 2.3% 6.87% 7.41% 4.11% 3% 1.49% 2.6%
2025/10/18 11.58% 13.77% 11.78% 3.44% 5.87% 4.39% 3.93% 3.6% 1.41% 2.25%
2025/10/19 12.23% 10.73% 12.28% 6.49% 6.71% 5.11% 2.84% 3.58% 1.26% 3.07%
2025/10/20 14.97% 10.71% 12.23% 3.73% 4.78% 5.13% 3% 4% 1.39% 3.79%
2025/10/21 15.59% 12.82% 10.96% 3.66% 3.32% 5.6% 3.62% 2.82% 1.91% 2.6%
2025/10/22 17.6% 12.66% 10.39% 4.51% 4.25% 4.53% 3.8% 2.83% 2.01% 1.12%
2025/10/23 20.94% 9.81% 11.84% 4.22% 4.27% 5.6% 3.69% 2.24% 1.97% 0.66%
2025/10/24 19.93% 11.67% 10.6% 5.13% 3.52% 4.39% 4.33% 3.4% 2.78% 0.65%
2025/10/25 19.28% 10.53% 13.29% 2.93% 5.07% 5.32% 3.78% 2.54% 2.23% 0.54%
2025/10/26 18.29% 12.13% 14.96% 1.01% 5.95% 5.11% 3.83% 2.77% 2.03% 0.93%
2025/10/27 18.44% 10.86% 11.4% 5.11% 5.5% 4.24% 3.01% 2.69% 2.06% 1.68%
2025/10/28 18.92% 9.22% 15.01% 3.74% 5.46% 4.63% 3.18% 5.3% 2.5% 0.83%
2025/10/29 19.89% 9.18% 10.08% 4.07% 4.74% 4.92% 4.67% 3.26% 1.88% 1.6%
2025/10/30 19.57% 11.32% 9.95% 2.86% 4.79% 4.58% 4.16% 2.63% 2.05% 0.68%
2025/10/31 14.09% 12.62% 11.02% 4.83% 4.56% 4.36% 4.18% 3.15% 2.32% 0.55%
  • guitarcenter.com
  • amazon.com
  • thriftbooks.com
  • calendars.com
  • walmart.com
  • sweetwater.com
  • zazzle.com
  • audible.com
  • christianbook.com
  • zzounds.com

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Guitarcenter.com led October with fluctuating spend, peaking at 23.74%. Amazon.com surged mid-month, reaching 21.83%. Thriftbooks.com maintained steady growth, while calendars.com and walmart.com showed varied trends. The month ended with diverse performances.

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
2025/10/01 836
2025/10/02 715
2025/10/03 558
2025/10/04 610
2025/10/05 637
2025/10/06 555
2025/10/07 629
2025/10/08 575
2025/10/09 600
2025/10/10 641
2025/10/11 574
2025/10/12 616
2025/10/13 601
2025/10/14 617
2025/10/15 674
2025/10/16 670
2025/10/17 732
2025/10/18 818
2025/10/19 811
2025/10/20 783
2025/10/21 698
2025/10/22 649
2025/10/23 670
2025/10/24 638
2025/10/25 637
2025/10/26 678
2025/10/27 638
2025/10/28 621
2025/10/29 619
2025/10/30 630
2025/10/31 666

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

October began with 836 advertisers, dipping to 555 by the 6th. Mid-month saw a resurgence, peaking at 818 on the 18th. The month concluded with 666 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.

Market Loss & Market Gains - Last month
Market Loss & Market Gains - Last month
Name Market Trend
calendars.com 1.13%
target.com 0.99%
walmart.com 0.84%
audible.com 0.82%
zzounds.com 0.57%
rakuten.com -0.35%
etsy.com -0.96%
sweetwater.com -1.11%
amazon.com -1.7%
guitarcenter.com -3.46%

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Guitarcenter.com saw a significant drop of 3.46% in click share, while calendars.com experienced a notable rise of 1.13%.

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 target.com amazon.com thriftbooks.com calendars.com etsy.com walmart.com sweetwater.com zazzle.com audible.com
2025/10/01 10.13% 15.59% 3.02% 5.86% 2.26% 3.67% 8.69% 5.97% 1.87% 2.58%
2025/10/02 11.63% 12.37% 4.61% 5.53% 2.59% 5.45% 6.81% 4.84% 2.96% 1.85%
2025/10/03 17.89% 3.99% 8.19% 14.54% 2.53% 4.45% 2.76% 4.52% 2.93% 1.6%
2025/10/04 18.22% 6.36% 9.03% 10.32% 1.34% 4.33% 5.05% 3.35% 4.29% 1.64%
2025/10/05 11.33% 11.96% 8.74% 7.73% 3.15% 5.19% 4.92% 5.11% 3.1% 2.96%
2025/10/06 15.39% 7.52% 9.01% 11.24% 3.46% 6.63% 3.24% 6.72% 3.62% 3.03%
2025/10/07 12.09% 13.49% 10.42% 9.48% 2.58% 6.25% 4.44% 5.03% 2.73% 2.42%
2025/10/08 17% 13.93% 8.69% 8.32% 3.08% 5.05% 4.12% 3.88% 3.22% 2.11%
2025/10/09 17.48% 10.66% 6.16% 10.87% 1.3% 5.43% 4.02% 6.39% 3.34% 2.17%
2025/10/10 17.44% 6.88% 6.57% 7.97% 4.24% 5.14% 5.82% 7.75% 3.74% 1.74%
2025/10/11 16.32% 9.2% 8.92% 11.63% 4.82% 5.09% 2.73% 5.62% 3.18% 2.02%
2025/10/12 13.68% 6.77% 8.02% 11.48% 8.02% 6.38% 4.26% 4.96% 3.37% 1.43%
2025/10/13 14.91% 5.65% 9.66% 9.34% 4.58% 4.61% 2.52% 7.93% 3.08% 2.96%
2025/10/14 12.7% 5.36% 10.28% 10.04% 2.62% 7.87% 2.86% 6.08% 4.64% 2.91%
2025/10/15 15.55% 5.98% 9.29% 8.65% 3.36% 5.4% 4.02% 4.93% 3.5% 2.64%
2025/10/16 15.62% 5.03% 8.18% 9.09% 3.79% 6.48% 3.87% 7.01% 4.37% 2.63%
2025/10/17 11.89% 7.13% 6.04% 7.85% 3.07% 4.62% 5.11% 7.33% 3.49% 2.83%
2025/10/18 9.9% 9.2% 6.11% 10.14% 4.34% 4.57% 5.06% 4.47% 3.29% 3.31%
2025/10/19 8.62% 14.59% 4.93% 9.69% 7.36% 4.13% 5.44% 4.3% 2.07% 3.05%
2025/10/20 10.84% 13.56% 5.56% 9.55% 4.05% 3.18% 3.79% 4.9% 2.19% 3.75%
2025/10/21 11.95% 13.76% 8% 7.54% 4.29% 3.84% 2.88% 4.98% 2.97% 2.65%
2025/10/22 14.24% 10.14% 9.31% 8.38% 5.07% 3.83% 3.76% 4.51% 3.04% 2.57%
2025/10/23 16.3% 8.96% 8.1% 9.02% 4.97% 3.55% 4.59% 5.15% 3.22% 2.17%
2025/10/24 15.72% 6.21% 10.08% 7.77% 6.57% 4.01% 3.36% 4.16% 3.99% 3%
2025/10/25 14.88% 12.28% 7.92% 10.09% 3.37% 3.86% 5.02% 4.79% 2.94% 2.04%
2025/10/26 14.16% 7.08% 9.66% 13.45% 1.56% 3.66% 6.07% 4.29% 3.01% 2.83%
2025/10/27 14.38% 5.63% 9.65% 10.19% 5.53% 2.52% 5.8% 4.48% 2.61% 2.81%
2025/10/28 14.91% 5.84% 7.5% 13.28% 4.4% 2.74% 6.06% 4.5% 2.69% 5.07%
2025/10/29 15.59% 6.7% 7.12% 8.28% 4.84% 3.89% 4.69% 4.89% 3.98% 3.08%
2025/10/30 16.01% 5.36% 8.75% 8.31% 3.56% 3.88% 5.33% 4.4% 3.44% 2.72%
2025/10/31 10.6% 9.35% 9.32% 8.77% 6.6% 5.04% 4.19% 3.85% 3.37% 2.71%
  • guitarcenter.com
  • target.com
  • amazon.com
  • thriftbooks.com
  • calendars.com
  • etsy.com
  • walmart.com
  • sweetwater.com
  • zazzle.com
  • audible.com

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Guitarcenter.com led October with fluctuating impressions, peaking mid-month. Target.com saw a decline, while Amazon.com steadily rose. Thriftbooks.com and Calendars.com showed consistent growth. The month ended with diverse trends across domains.

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
    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
    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...

  3. 3
    Online & In-Store Cash Back - Rakuten.com https://www.rakuten.com › rakuten › save_now

    Higher Prices Got You Down? Join Rakuten for Free and Get Cash Back on Everyday Purchases.

  4. 4
    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! Buy...

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

    #1 Online Used Bookstore — 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.com leads with its promise of seamless shopping and entertainment through Prime. Guitar Center and Sweetwater captivate music enthusiasts with their extensive gear selections. Rakuten entices with cash-back offers, while ThriftBooks appeals to book lovers with affordable, diverse collections.

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