Report: Apple pushing to kill iTunes music downloads

[Rogifan]

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016/05/11/apple-terminating-music-downloads-two-years/

Apple is now preparing to completely terminate music download offerings on the iTunes Store, with an aggressive, two-year termination timetable actively being considered and gaining favor. According to sources to Digital Music News with close and active business relationships with Apple, discussions are now focused “not on if, but when” music downloads should be retired for good.

The sources insisted on confidentiality and required that all conversations be conducted outside of email or any written medium, given the realistic fear of reprisals for sharing details of internal corporate discussions.

Back to the story, the sources indicated that a range of shutdown timetables are being considered by Apple, though one executive noted that “keeping [iTunes music downloads] running forever isn’t really on the table anymore.” Also under discussion is a plan to “ride the [iTunes music download offering] out for the next 3-4 years, maybe longer,” when paid music downloads are likely to be an afterthought in a streaming-dominated industry.

So what is Apple going to do about the music not available on Apple Music? I'm sure they made decent money on Prince albums and singles over the past month. Rather than killing iTunes I think Apple should better integrate it with Apple Music. For the stuff that isn't streamable just have a buy button next to it.

 

[Julien]

https://www.macrumors.com

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-itunes-music-downloads-in-two-years.1972160/