Apple Aiming to End iTunes Music Downloads in Two Years [Update: Apple Says 'Not True']

[JosephAW]

Forget streaming or downloading. I listen to all my music by streaming for FREE!

I already have music I purchased from iTunes years ago that I can't redownload again because it's no longer for sale in the store.

 

[pat500000]

Right. Reminds of the "trial balloons" politicians float to friendly press to test out public reaction to controversial ideas. The iTunes idea didn't just come from some bored mischief maker. Maybe I am being a bit too cynical but seems like Apple was just testing this idea, saw the pushback and quickly sought to extinguish the fire before it caused real damage.

But at least it's a moot point (for now).

It's good to be cynical..you have every right to be cynical. If they were going to test this out like North Korean Kim guy testing missiles....so be it. I wouldn't trust any of them.
[doublepost=1463018218][/doublepost]

Likely someone hating on Apple. Shocker...

Funny seeing everyone chomp on the bait and go crazy.

I know I took the bait...still...the idea of it is disturbing.
It wouldn't make sense if they planned to stop it..unless they got other plans.

 

[kerrikins]

Glad to see this was updated as not true Probably not something they've even considered, either, considering they felt the need to immediately shut it down.

 

[Kal-037]

Had Apple actually planned to do this, I'd just go back to buying CDs or purchase MP3s from Amazon.



Kal.

 

[Denmac1]

Personally, I don't think there was ever a good time to leave CDs. It takes all of, what 5 minutes to rip a CD and end up with far better quality files than from any d/l service. Only problem w/ CDs is you have to store them which is a PITA, but I manage.

I don't buy moves -- rarely have a desire to re-watch them except a few classics maybe one every decade. But even then I've notice a lot titles that once were on CD or BD no longer are, and also are not available for streaming (legal at least).

I agree. It seems that Tim & Co want to put the final nail in SJ's coffin. He was so adamant about the digital hub. Yes, I'm old school and I don't care about the cloud, streaming and subscription type services. Just more to manage and be concerned about the 'big' crash. As others have stated, I want to own my music. The golden era of Apple, IMHO, is gone. The current management is only concerned about margins.
At this point in my life, I really like the older music. No offense to those that like the newer stuff, but Bieber, Gomez and that lot, to me, do not represent true talent. I liked it when I could truly hear and understand the lyrics clearly.
I'm glad after being a mobile DJ for 10 years, that I have a substantial collection of physical media that I can utilize for my own listening experience. I believe that in the last year, I may have purchased 4 albums. As people look for instant gratification, (once again, OK, for those that have that desire), but I may be one of many thousands that don't purchase many units and maybe that's the reason Apple may be taking that approach.Still multiple small (600 mil?) income streams should not be ignored.
With that said, WTF are they thinking?

 

[Sedulous]

Forget streaming or downloading. I listen to all my music by streaming for FREE!

I already have music I purchased from iTunes years ago that I can't redownload again because it's no longer for sale in the store.

Same here... except the albums I bought are actually still in iTunes music store but I am unable to re-download them because the "content owner" changed some aspect of the album. Ridiculous.

 

[Mr. Donahue]

Apple is going to burst someday and come flailing down to earth

 

[Allbridge]

Good thing Apple commented on this issue. Just today I resurected my 2009 iPod Classic and will put the 1TB flash drive in that big boy and listen to music as it should be. Intimate, peaceful and above all personal

 

[shox2k2]

Pipe dream. Artists are already complaining that the streaming companies aren't paying them enough. I don't see how they will like streaming only unless they raise their prices. I'd go back to cd's. I'm probably 80% iTunes and 20% cd's. Usually cd's are cheaper upon release and I wouldn't really have a problem going that route again. Maybe some day I'll consider apple music or something else. I get amazon music included with my prime and Ive never used it.
[doublepost=1463019378][/doublepost]Pipe dream. Artists are already complaining that the streaming companies aren't paying them enough. I don't see how they will like streaming only unless they raise their prices. I'd go back to cd's. I'm probably 80% iTunes and 20% cd's. Usually cd's are cheaper upon release and I wouldn't really have a problem going that route again. Maybe some day I'll consider apple music or something else. I get amazon music included with my prime and Ive never used it.

 

[M. Gustave]

I think you missed the point that I was getting at. If iTunes downloads are gone, and a song isn't on Apple Music, how exactly do you propose that I get the song? Legally, by the way. Of course I could download it but I'm talking about legal methods, here. On top of that I'm in Canada so a lot of alternatives aren't available here.

By buying the track from another service, or the cd and ripping it, then you add it to Apple Music. When I joined AM, it scanned my library of 13,000 songs, matching 10,000 to the iTunes catalog, and then uploaded the remaining 3,000. Now they are just seamlessly in "Apple Music" for me.

And if I need to be out of cell or wifi service areas, I can download any of it to my phone at any time. This entire discussion was about *purchasing* downloads - not the ability to download at all.

 

[mantan]

Right. Reminds of the "trial balloons" politicians float to friendly press to test out public reaction to controversial ideas. The iTunes idea didn't just come from some bored mischief maker. Maybe I am being a bit too cynical but seems like Apple was just testing this idea, saw the pushback and quickly sought to extinguish the fire before it caused real damage.

But at least it's a moot point (for now).

I completely agree this was a trial balloon. Then the very specific question of 'iTunes ending in 2 years' was debunked. It wasn't like they denied the concept removing downloads....just the timeframe.

A few years ago I would have considered this rumor ludicrous. But at this point, I could absolutely see Apple considering this.

 

[kazmac]

Can't really comment until they do it. I still buy songs. It's increasingly rare, but I appreciate being able to do so.

 

[macs4nw]

Okay fine, I'll buy my music elsewhere. I have zero loyalty to iTunes.

Sure, my thoughts too, but there is that nagging possibility the other players in the music download business are going in the same direction also, i.e. streaming exclusively. CDs will most likely eventually go by the wayside also.

Personally, I hope there'll always be some way to own ones's music outright.

 

[Pentium]

Good thing Apple commented on this issue. Just today I resurected my 2009 iPod Classic and will put the 1TB flash drive in that big boy and listen to music as it should be. Intimate, peaceful and above all personal

I was planning to do that, can you give some recommendations?

 

[Allbridge]

I was planning to do that, can you give some recommendations?

https://www.iflash.xyz/1tb-ipod-classic-restore-sync-video/

 

[orioncrystalice]

I agree. It seems that Tim & Co want to put the final nail in SJ's coffin. He was so adamant about the digital hub. Yes, I'm old school and I don't care about the cloud, streaming and subscription type services. Just more to manage and be concerned about the 'big' crash. As others have stated, I want to own my music. The golden era of Apple, IMHO, is gone. The current management is only concerned about margins.
At this point in my life, I really like the older music. No offense to those that like the newer stuff, but Bieber, Gomez and that lot, to me, do not represent true talent. I liked it when I could truly hear and understand the lyrics clearly.
I'm glad after being a mobile DJ for 10 years, that I have a substantial collection of physical media that I can utilize for my own listening experience. I believe that in the last year, I may have purchased 4 albums. As people look for instant gratification, (once again, OK, for those that have that desire), but I may be one of many thousands that don't purchase many units and maybe that's the reason Apple may be taking that approach.Still multiple small (600 mil?) income streams should not be ignored.
With that said, WTF are they thinking?

You were a DJ for a decade and still grossly generalize entire eras of music to this extent?

 

[Plutonius]

Update: Apple rep Tom Neumayr contacted Recode and said the report that Apple would stop iTunes music downloads in two years is "not true."

He didn't say the rumor that they were stopping downloads in the future was false. Only that it would not be in two years .
[doublepost=1463022838][/doublepost]

Apple is going to burst someday and come flailing down to earth

Have you seen the stock prices lately .

 

[tentales]

Apple allegedly has an aggressive plan to "terminate" music downloads from iTunes within two years, reports Digital Music News citing sources with "close and active business relationships" with Apple.
....
Update: Apple rep Tom Neumayr contacted Recode and said the report that Apple would stop iTunes music downloads in two years is "not true."

Which part? The timeline ? Sooner than later ?

Hey they thought Vinyl was dead years ago. Then it came back. Then CD was written off after iTunes. Now iTunes will be replaced by "Apple Music".

Once the cool factor of streaming to your mobile device while driving wears off, people will come back to wanting tangible objects that they're in full control of. You can't inherit a streaming subscription.

 

[UniquelyGreg]

Apple allegedly has an aggressive plan to "terminate" music downloads from iTunes within two years, reports Digital Music News citing sources with "close and active business relationships" with Apple.

Apple is also rumored to be considering a three to four year timeline for the shutdown of iTunes downloads, but overall discussions with Apple executives are said to focus on "not on if, but when" the company should retire music downloads. Termination of music downloads could be staggered by country based on the popularity of streaming content in different regions.The timeline is unclear because Apple's iTunes business continues to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars each year, but it is on the decline due to the rise of streaming music services. According to music industry Mark Mulligan, iTunes music downloads will be worth $600 million in 2019, down from $3.9 billion in 2012. Mulligan believes Apple's download business could be 10 times smaller than its streaming music business by 2020.

Apple is also said to be considering ending music downloads due to the confusion it causes with Apple Music, mixing downloaded music purchases with Apple Music content.

Late last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that Apple Music now has 13 million paying subscribers, up from 11 million users in February. Apple Music originally launched on June 30, 2015 in more than 100 countries and at its current growth rate, Apple is on track to have 15 million subscribers at its one-year anniversary.

Update: Apple rep Tom Neumayr contacted Recode and said the report that Apple would stop iTunes music downloads in two years is "not true."

Article Link: Apple Aiming to End iTunes Music Downloads in Two Years [Update: Apple Says 'Not True']

What about TV shows and movies?

 

[tentales]

Queue the avalanche of macrumors geezers who don't get it.

USB ports? check
Desktop OS on every device? check
Local 100GB music library with five backups? check

Queue the avalanche of spoilt babies that think they "get it".

$10/month for renting music? check.
$100/month for cell plans to access music? check.
$1000/year for new pink phones so their friends think they're cool? check.

 

[brianvictor7]

Apple allegedly has an aggressive plan to "terminate" music downloads from iTunes within two years, reports Digital Music News citing sources with "close and active business relationships" with Apple.

Apple is also rumored to be considering a three to four year timeline for the shutdown of iTunes downloads, but overall discussions with Apple executives are said to focus on "not on if, but when" the company should retire music downloads. Termination of music downloads could be staggered by country based on the popularity of streaming content in different regions.The timeline is unclear because Apple's iTunes business continues to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars each year, but it is on the decline due to the rise of streaming music services. According to music industry Mark Mulligan, iTunes music downloads will be worth $600 million in 2019, down from $3.9 billion in 2012. Mulligan believes Apple's download business could be 10 times smaller than its streaming music business by 2020.

Apple is also said to be considering ending music downloads due to the confusion it causes with Apple Music, mixing downloaded music purchases with Apple Music content.

Late last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that Apple Music now has 13 million paying subscribers, up from 11 million users in February. Apple Music originally launched on June 30, 2015 in more than 100 countries and at its current growth rate, Apple is on track to have 15 million subscribers at its one-year anniversary.

Update: Apple rep Tom Neumayr contacted Recode and said the report that Apple would stop iTunes music downloads in two years is "not true."

Article Link: Apple Aiming to End iTunes Music Downloads in Two Years [Update: Apple Says 'Not True']

Thank goodness it was a false alarm! (Feeling a bit gullible here).

 

[Denmac1]

You were a DJ for a decade and still grossly generalize entire eras of music to this extent?

Only was stating what I personally liked. A lot of music I played as a DJ was part of the job.

 

[PizzaBoxStyle]

Good thing Apple commented on this issue. Just today I resurected my 2009 iPod Classic and will put the 1TB flash drive in that big boy and listen to music as it should be. Intimate, peaceful and above all personal

I was planning to do that, can you give some recommendations?

1 TB is stunning!

I am actually waiting for a compact flash card (32 GB) to arrive in the mail to do similar to an old iPod. I plan on slipping it into an iPod mini (apparently you don't even need an adapter, the CF card just slides right into the old 1" HD connector). And the beautiful thing is that I still have my old 12" iBook G4 (with 10.3.9 installed), so if modern/new iTunes ever stops supporting it, I can still get it to sync with my ancient Mac.

 

[Loge]

I completely agree this was a trial balloon. Then the very specific question of 'iTunes ending in 2 years' was debunked. It wasn't like they denied the concept removing downloads....just the timeframe.

A few years ago I would have considered this rumor ludicrous. But at this point, I could absolutely see Apple considering this.

Of course companies don't back themselves into a corner and say "never". Usually "no plans to", or dispute the timescale. In any case it's not entirely in their control as record companies in the future may decide not to sell music anymore.

 

[TLNZstudios]

I want 10,00 peeps talking here. raising heel or saying I loves this..ehem.. reminds me of when Steve Jobs said "our Screens are not Yellow, It is Apple White " and Apple changed their forums after that. hmm. had thousands of people cussing them out on Apple support. Yup. They changed after the yellow screen thing. Now look at that piss hole of a support site. .. IT's APPLE.. AND ALL IS GREAT!
Enter this Apple Music thing all Apple lovers are making excuses for..... THE SCREEN IS YELLOW APPLE.... AND YOUR **** IS SUCKING REALLY BAD!

damn, hurts me... I've been with them since 1989... this **** sucks worse the the scully days