Microsoft is sticking to its Zune guns, affirming a commitment to the struggling media player even in light of poor sales. Zune sales dropped 54% last quarter with the recession in full swing, compared to an only 16% decline in iPod sales. Combine that performance with the recent leap year software bugs shutting players down and Microsoft's big staff reduction, and you wouldn't think that the Zune would be getting the kind of support the company is now giving it.

The Zune's Director of Marketing spoke in an interview this week to address concerns over the line's future. He pointed to several possible causes for the substantial drop in sales, including the lack of a new Zune revision driving holiday sales and a media player marketplace nearing saturation. One of the reasons the iPod has been doing so much better, according to his theory, is that Apple sells its media player worldwide, while the Zune is limited to a North American market, amplifying the effects of the recession.

Besides the repeated assurances that the Zune isn't dead, we got promises of new Zune hardware and software on the horizon. Of course, there were no details on upcoming features or an expected timetable available, short of a mention that "progress" will be coming sometime this year. We sure hope so, because the Zune needs a good shot in the arm to perk back up and stay in the media player game.

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