Will iTunes be phased out? The death of music downloads.

[JusKeepBreathin 19,311]

So I have been saying this for a while now. I have posted comments about how digital downloads and iTunes will be coming to an end pretty soon. I always get the same replies by people who just can't accept change. Usually because their fave is a failure in streaming. So if your fave is not a strong streaming artist it might be the end of their career, well at least in a couple of 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.'

'Part of the debate is that paid music downloads still account for hundreds of millions of dollars to Apple, worldwide.  According to an estimate revealed by music industry analyst Mark Mulligan at Canadian Music Week in Toronto, iTunes music downloads will still be worth an estimated $600 million in 2019, though that is down from peak revenues of $3.9 billion in 2012.

“If he were alive, Jobs would have killed it,” one source bluntly stated (and he’s probably right).

But this is a ship that is sinking, fast.  “Last year downloads declined by 16% in nominal terms,” Mulligan noted.  “This year they are tracking to decline by between 25% and 30%.”

Earlier estimates by Digital Music News projected song download revenues closer to the $750 million mark, though that could be overly-optimistic given recent declines.'

Though the end of iTunes is likely farther aways than 3 to 4 years, eventually Apple will have to make a decision on whether the revenue it's generating from iTunes out weighs its cost, and whether keeping iTunes music downloads is hindering the growth its Apple Music streaming service. 

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

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016/06/07/apple-options-open-drop-music-downloads/

 

 

 

 

[PaperIz 7,354]

Depressing. I want to own my music. I just fear the day companies quit making hard copy cds and stuff. This is all a slippery slope

[Erotica 34,925]

I really hope not. I dislike streaming strongly.

[JusKeepBreathin 19,311]

4 minutes ago, PaperIz said:

Depressing. I want to own my music. I just fear the day companies quit making hard copy cds and stuff. This is all a slippery slope

I'm not trying to be shady, but why do you need to own your music in CD form. Most music players don't come with cd players anymore. Even cars will start phasing them out for Apple Car Play and Spotify, most 2016 models already have Apple Car play and Spotify built in. Most laptops will stop coming with a place to insert a CD too. There is not point. Most apps and programs are downloaded these days.

[Harry 26,836]

Apple confirmed that this news is not true, although it's still a pretty interesting discussion to have.

I think streaming will one day become more profitable than downloads if it continues to grow like it currently is. I don't think it will ever completely go away though because it costs so little to digitally release music.

Vinyl - cassette - CD - downloads - streaming

The consumption of popular music is and has always been progressing, and I think this will be the next step.

[PaperIz 7,354]

4 minutes ago, just4fun said:

I'm not trying to be shady, but why do you need to own your music in CD form. Most music players don't come with cd players anymore. Even cars will start phasing them out for Apple Car Play and Spotify, most 2016 models already have Apple Car play and Spotify built in. Most laptops will stop coming with a place to insert a CD too. There is not point. Most apps and programs are downloaded these days.

I need the hardcopy  there's something about holding the album, going through the booklet, everything about it is special to me

[JusKeepBreathin 19,311]

Just now, Harry said:

Apple confirmed that this news is not true, although it's still a pretty interesting discussion to have.

I think streaming will one day become more profitable than downloads if it continues to grow like it currently is. I don't think it will ever completely go away though because it costs so little to digitally release music.

Vinyl - cassette - CD - downloads - streaming

The consumption of popular music is and has always been progressing, and I think this will be the next step.

The article does state that Apple has denied it for now, but they will have to decide what to do in the future, especially if it's holding back the growth of Apple Music streaming. 

[gummybear 151]

5 minutes ago, just4fun said:

I'm not trying to be shady, but why do you need to own your music in CD form. Most music players don't come with cd players anymore. Even cars will start phasing them out for Apple Car Play and Spotify, most 2016 models already have Apple Car play and Spotify built in. Most laptops will stop coming with a place to insert a CD too. There is not point. Most apps and programs are downloaded these days.

it has nothing to do with the functionality of the CD. it's about owning a physical piece of art of someone you admire so much while also being a symbol of support.

[Jenniferella 2,775]

11 minutes ago, PaperIz said:

Depressing. I want to own my music. I just fear the day companies quit making hard copy cds and stuff. This is all a slippery slope

Same. I love to buy new phsical albums, and it's way more charming than having it in a corner of your computer. There is something about having it in your hands the day you buy it, a year after or 10 years after. It's priceless imo since I can't live without music

[JusKeepBreathin 19,311]

10 minutes ago, PaperIz said:

I need the hardcopy  there's something about holding the album, going through the booklet, everything about it is special to me

Well, the good thing is that the nostalgia of holding something is making Vinyl sales go up. So there will always be an option for music lovers that like to feel something in their hands. But this article is about digital sales vs streaming neither of which you can hold in your hands. 

@DevilHeart

@gummybear

[RAMROD 117,011]

No, it will never die as with CDs and Vinyl wouldn't. There are people who will keep buying cos streaming is not the way they want to enjoy music.

[Caesium 6,022]

I made a thread about this a couple of weeks ago, pretty sure it got disproved somehow.

[SlaeUrAnus 16,111]

Of course. People are using mega streaming companies such as Spotify and YouTube. I remember when in the 00's, you used bluetooth/bought CD's, late 00's you still bought CD's but downloaded songs via iTunes (YouTube and Spotify weren't that big back then), now hardly's anyone (excluding Adele fans) buy CD's and downloads sales are decreasing. 

What I am trying to say is streaming is the new 'sales' for this part of the decade. What would it be like in 2020?

[Dayman 6,251]

There's no reason to phase it out. All the same songs would be available for streaming - with them being hosted anyway what practical reason would there be to cut out the option of buying the songs as well as streaming them? They would just be eliminating an extra source of profit without any gain for cutting it.

[SlaeUrAnus 16,111]

41 minutes ago, gummybear said:

it has nothing to do with the functionality of the CD. it's about owning a physical piece of art of someone you admire so much while also being a symbol of support.

This. I have every Gaga album downloaded on my phone. However, I have Gaga's albums in physical form too. Just like games, it is somewhat more satisfying to have a physical copy instead of it being on a piece of technology.