US Retail Books and Music - PPC Market Share Analysis August 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 36.507373833
63.492626167
36%

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 18
82
18%

Search Intent Distribution

Breakdown of search queries by their underlying goal.

Intent Distribution
Investigational 6%
Transactional 11%
Navigational 27%
Seasonal 3%
Local 0%
Problem Solving 2%

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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 29.79
amazon.com 17.01
calendars.com 8.26
thriftbooks.com 4.38
rakuten.com 3.04
etsy.com 2.84
christianbook.com 2.42
target.com 2.3
sweetwater.com 2.23
abebooks.com 1.66
others 26.07
  • guitarcenter.com - 29.79%
  • amazon.com - 17.01%
  • calendars.com - 8.26%
  • thriftbooks.com - 4.38%
  • rakuten.com - 3.04%
  • etsy.com - 2.84%
  • christianbook.com - 2.42%
  • target.com - 2.3%
  • sweetwater.com - 2.23%
  • abebooks.com - 1.66%
  • others - 26.07%

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Guitarcenter.com leads with 29.79% click share, followed by Amazon at 17.01%. Others collectively hold 26.07%, 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 calendars.com thriftbooks.com zazzle.com etsy.com abebooks.com target.com sweetwater.com uncommongoods.com
2026/08/01 8.25% 9.65% 0.65% 3.88% 3.39% 4.8% 2.25% 1.69% 2.96% 1.71%
2026/08/02 11.85% 4.2% 2.62% 5.28% 3.66% 5.79% 2.36% 1.53% 2.5% 3.9%
2026/08/03 13.54% 8.34% 1.07% 6.11% 4.91% 5.33% 3.34% 1.98% 4.22% 0.13%
2026/08/04 10.03% 7.28% 4.95% 6.09% 3.95% 4.09% 3.23% 2.12% 3.95% 2.71%
2026/08/05 12.39% 12.39% 0% 5.62% 4.43% 3.72% 3.42% 3.3% 3.09% 1.2%
2026/08/06 17.2% 10.39% 4.85% 5.67% 2.37% 2.93% 3.82% 2.52% 2.46% 1.49%
2026/08/07 16.32% 15.58% 3.24% 7% 3.27% 2.85% 4.53% 2.48% 2.33% 1.78%
2026/08/08 12.53% 12.45% 1.47% 5.57% 1.8% 5.18% 3.56% 3.87% 2.99% 0.08%
2026/08/09 16.06% 9.95% 0% 4.81% 3.24% 6.29% 4.7% 2.99% 5.92% 0.19%
2026/08/10 12.29% 5.29% 0% 4.43% 4.07% 14.51% 2.81% 4.97% 2.62% 0.04%
2026/08/11 12.96% 6.01% 2.41% 5.74% 3.49% 7.76% 3.56% 2.38% 2.89% 2.67%
2026/08/12 16.47% 10.23% 2.55% 6.92% 3.24% 10.49% 3.29% 3.11% 2.11% 1.61%
2026/08/13 14.82% 11.34% 0.59% 5.84% 2.54% 9.84% 3.64% 2.97% 1.96% 7.33%
2026/08/14 11.68% 5.89% 3.13% 4.63% 3.76% 6.03% 2.91% 2.13% 2.06% 2.54%
2026/08/15 11.8% 7.02% 0.62% 4.85% 3.15% 5.16% 2.61% 2.82% 2.2% 4.69%
2026/08/16 11.74% 4.33% 1.78% 4.14% 2.09% 14.85% 2.14% 1.85% 1.37% 5.71%
2026/08/17 21.1% 7.43% 0.87% 6.06% 3.07% 2.77% 4.86% 4.23% 2.33% 6.23%
2026/08/18 11.39% 5.96% 1.95% 8.26% 3.51% 7.75% 3.47% 3.29% 3.61% 1.09%
2026/08/19 11.52% 12.14% 0.72% 3.35% 3.5% 6.65% 3.33% 4.99% 2.95% 1.99%
2026/08/20 13.85% 12.62% 2.52% 4.98% 3.32% 7.29% 4.14% 3.08% 2.38% 3.46%
2026/08/21 12.86% 13.9% 2.93% 4.97% 3.39% 6.12% 3.98% 3.38% 2.77% 1.8%
2026/08/22 10.93% 11.08% 6.87% 6.18% 2.82% 5.75% 3.14% 5.54% 2.97% 2.84%
2026/08/23 10.92% 6.91% 7.61% 5.19% 2.78% 3.16% 3.5% 5.67% 2.41% 4.77%
2026/08/24 13.72% 6.11% 6.93% 4.29% 2.14% 8.74% 2.26% 2.48% 2.04% 6.21%
2026/08/25 9.07% 5.93% 7.96% 4.27% 3.36% 14.54% 2.73% 3.42% 2.8% 4.8%
2026/08/26 9.6% 10.85% 6.9% 3.35% 4.54% 8.08% 2.89% 2.98% 1.69% 2.72%
2026/08/27 11.42% 10.36% 3.76% 5.57% 4.19% 4.48% 2.77% 3.5% 3.33% 2.81%
2026/08/28 9.09% 11.99% 4.53% 5.99% 5.33% 6.23% 3.08% 3.34% 3.74% 1.3%
2026/08/29 11.88% 11.89% 6.66% 5.32% 4.57% 5.61% 3.24% 5.76% 3.43% 1.49%
2026/08/30 11.98% 7.3% 6.44% 7.2% 4.98% 4.82% 3.36% 6.46% 3.19% 0.14%
2026/08/31 13.3% 7.95% 6.53% 6.33% 4.98% 4.69% 4.17% 3.85% 3.61% 0.08%
  • amazon.com
  • guitarcenter.com
  • calendars.com
  • thriftbooks.com
  • zazzle.com
  • etsy.com
  • abebooks.com
  • target.com
  • sweetwater.com
  • uncommongoods.com

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Amazon’s PPC spend peaked mid-month at 21.10%, while Guitar Center saw a high of 15.58%. Etsy’s spend surged to 14.85% on August 16. The month concluded with Amazon leading, maintaining a strong presence.

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
2026/08/01 643
2026/08/02 614
2026/08/03 577
2026/08/04 691
2026/08/05 599
2026/08/06 543
2026/08/07 486
2026/08/08 488
2026/08/09 481
2026/08/10 555
2026/08/11 545
2026/08/12 527
2026/08/13 515
2026/08/14 538
2026/08/15 519
2026/08/16 520
2026/08/17 489
2026/08/18 508
2026/08/19 474
2026/08/20 499
2026/08/21 535
2026/08/22 557
2026/08/23 534
2026/08/24 542
2026/08/25 556
2026/08/26 548
2026/08/27 572
2026/08/28 576
2026/08/29 560
2026/08/30 584
2026/08/31 550

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

August saw fluctuating advertiser numbers, starting at 643, dipping mid-month, and closing at 550.

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 8.82%
target.com 0.28%
bookoutlet.com 0.2%
rakuten.com 0.16%
grainger.com 0.16%
beyond-memories.com -0.41%
etsy.com -0.49%
churchsource.com -0.55%
amazon.com -1.18%
guitarcenter.com -2.5%

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Calendars.com surged with an 8.82% click share increase, while GuitarCenter.com dropped by 2.5%. Target.com and BookOutlet.com saw modest gains, contrasting Amazon.com’s 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.

Date guitarcenter.com amazon.com calendars.com thriftbooks.com sweetwater.com target.com etsy.com christianbook.com temu.com uncommongoods.com
2026/08/01 14.33% 7.4% 0.57% 5.87% 6.22% 2.72% 5.43% 3.9% 0.87% 1.61%
2026/08/02 8.19% 9.91% 3.07% 6.96% 5.45% 2.44% 6.63% 3.66% 1.7% 3.48%
2026/08/03 12.16% 10.27% 0.85% 8.05% 7.31% 3.24% 7.25% 2.88% 2.32% 0.1%
2026/08/04 11.74% 8.55% 4.03% 7.66% 7.01% 3.19% 5.19% 2.14% 1.39% 2.18%
2026/08/05 17.9% 9.74% 0% 6.83% 5.53% 5.34% 4.24% 2.83% 1.58% 0.96%
2026/08/06 16.57% 11.91% 4.9% 6.94% 4.4% 3.73% 3.84% 1.36% 2% 1.23%
2026/08/07 22.92% 12.59% 2.31% 6.91% 4.74% 4.08% 3.89% 1.55% 2.4% 1.68%
2026/08/08 15.62% 9.36% 1.04% 6.97% 5.6% 5.79% 6.48% 2.5% 2.18% 0.1%
2026/08/09 13.78% 10.86% 0% 6.35% 10.07% 4.21% 7.77% 2.53% 1.78% 0.11%
2026/08/10 10.02% 9.74% 0% 6.03% 6.21% 5.24% 11.3% 0.99% 2.04% 0.03%
2026/08/11 9.79% 8.71% 2.15% 7.01% 6.07% 3.56% 7.22% 1.73% 1.84% 2%
2026/08/12 16.18% 10.65% 2.74% 8.53% 4.1% 4.47% 7.83% 2.09% 1.86% 1.3%
2026/08/13 16.39% 10.4% 0.87% 6.87% 4.12% 4.56% 8.01% 1.36% 4.22% 5.96%
2026/08/14 10.63% 8.58% 2.93% 6.12% 4.55% 3.85% 6.3% 2.14% 2.42% 2.14%
2026/08/15 11.66% 7.31% 0.88% 6.09% 4.32% 4.54% 4.8% 2.5% 2.35% 3.64%
2026/08/16 8.15% 9.1% 2.17% 4.79% 3.13% 3.49% 10.42% 1.65% 2.56% 5.04%
2026/08/17 13.34% 13.03% 1.19% 7.65% 5.05% 6.4% 2.9% 1.06% 2.64% 4.95%
2026/08/18 11.51% 8.24% 1.9% 9.78% 7.6% 5.05% 5.38% 2.27% 2.09% 1.09%
2026/08/19 16.28% 8.33% 1% 4.14% 6.27% 5.86% 6.81% 1.97% 2.32% 1.43%
2026/08/20 18.09% 10.83% 2.81% 5.32% 4.61% 4.64% 6.44% 2.06% 2.42% 2.62%
2026/08/21 17.37% 10.36% 3.5% 6.21% 5.49% 5.62% 5.95% 1.06% 2.09% 1.37%
2026/08/22 14.37% 9.14% 5.97% 8.19% 5.5% 7.47% 5.79% 0.86% 1.87% 2.16%
2026/08/23 11.74% 9.79% 7.44% 5.92% 5.36% 6.21% 4.36% 1.67% 2.49% 4.02%
2026/08/24 11.02% 10.2% 7.97% 4.97% 3.99% 3.83% 7.83% 1.97% 1.3% 5.5%
2026/08/25 9.88% 7.38% 10.32% 5.8% 5.1% 5.55% 11.05% 2.6% 2.23% 4.08%
2026/08/26 14.08% 8.7% 8.85% 4.35% 3.45% 4.75% 8.16% 2.08% 1.82% 2.25%
2026/08/27 14.45% 9.8% 4.72% 6.45% 6.6% 5.53% 5.29% 1.66% 1.31% 2.23%
2026/08/28 17.05% 7.57% 4.74% 7.45% 7.01% 4.56% 6.15% 1.97% 2.47% 1%
2026/08/29 16.38% 9.73% 7.05% 7% 6.45% 6.03% 5.18% 1.45% 2.07% 1.15%
2026/08/30 12.29% 10.39% 7.34% 9.82% 6.46% 6.85% 5.64% 2.51% 2.75% 0.11%
2026/08/31 13.83% 10.32% 8.04% 7.72% 6.69% 5.83% 5.02% 2.31% 2.3% 0.08%
  • guitarcenter.com
  • amazon.com
  • calendars.com
  • thriftbooks.com
  • sweetwater.com
  • target.com
  • etsy.com
  • christianbook.com
  • temu.com
  • uncommongoods.com

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Guitarcenter.com led August with fluctuating impressions, peaking at 22.92% on the 7th. Amazon.com maintained steady growth, ending at 10.32%. Calendars.com surged late, reaching 10.32% on the 25th. Thriftbooks.com and Sweetwater.com showed consistent presence, while Etsy.com peaked mid-month. Christianbook.com and Temu.com had modest shares, with Uncommongoods.com trailing.

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. Free, easy returns on millions of items.

  2. 2
    One-Of-A-Kind Gifts For Fathers Day | Etsy | Father's Day Gifts https://www.etsy.com › fathers-day

    Magical, Meaningful Items For Dad You Can't Find Anywhere Else. Shop Father's Day Gifts On Etsy...

  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...

  4. 4
    LEGO® Sets For Dad https://www.lego.com › adults › awaken-your-joy

    Explore LEGO® Sets For Adults — Gift creative building sets for adults that celebrate their passions and feel personal. Lose yourself in...

  5. 5
    Sweetwater Music & Pro Audio | Top Gear, Low Prices https://www.sweetwater.com

    Check Out Sweetwater's Extensive Selection of Pro Audio Gear From the Top Brands! Browse Special Offers And Huge Savings On Top Brands. Massive Gear Selection. Trusted by Musicians.

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

In the realm of Google PPC, Amazon, Etsy, Guitar Center, LEGO, and Sweetwater captivate audiences with distinct narratives. Amazon emphasizes convenience and variety, while Etsy offers unique, heartfelt gifts. Guitar Center and Sweetwater cater to music enthusiasts with diverse gear options, and LEGO inspires creativity with adult-focused sets.

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