According to Strategy Analytics Digital Media Strategies (DMS) research, the top 27 digital media companies in the world increased earnings by more than 20 per cent, to $74 billion in 2008 up from $61.5 billion in 2007.

Among the top five digital media companies in the world, Apple's 'Other Music Related Products and Services' segment, which includes iTunes, was best-in-class – growing 32.7 per cent in 2008, while Yahoo grew the least with only 3.4 per cent growth in 2008.

Other findings indicate that most of the companies focusing on consumer paid-for media, such as music and video downloads, are currently withstanding the economic downturn better than most of the companies focusing on online advertising.

"While growth in the digital media sector has been slowing as a result of the global economic downturn, the industry still grew a healthy 20.5 per cent in 2008 and Strategy Analytics projects a further seven to nine per cent growth in 2009," said Jia Wu, Analyst at Strategy Analytics' Digital Consumer Practice.

"The fact that, in 2008, most of the companies focusing on consumer paid-for media in the Strategy Analytics Digital Media Index performed much better than most of the companies focusing on online advertising, could be an early indicator that we are approaching a watershed moment in the nascent digital media market, and that more focus will be put on consumer paid-for online media in the difficult years ahead," commented Martin Olausson, Director of Digital Media Research at Strategy Analytics.

Story filed 24.03.09