With a major Apple Music refresh likely to be arriving at WWDC, there’s no doubting that Apple sees subscription-based streaming music as the way of the future. But where does this leave iTunes music downloads?
Despite Apple’s denials, according to “sources with close knowledge of the company’s plans,” the company continues to plan to “phase out” music downloads in a “just a few years” — depending on how this whole streaming music thing does, of course!
Exactly when this will happen depends on how rapidly music downloads continue to decline, how quickly Apple Music gains subs, and how an “unstable internal political atmosphere” plays out inside Apple — possibly referring to the Beats vs. Apple culture clash we’ve previously written about.
If this rumor sounds familiar, it’s because it was first reported last month, when the website Digital Music News said that Apple had come up with an internal proposal to eliminate music downloads from iTunes as soon as 2-3 years from now. However, Apple’s media representatives quickly leapt to deny this, with Apple rep Tom Neumayr telling Re/code that it was “not true,” but declining to elaborate further.
Those same sources say that Apple hasn’t dropped its plans in this area, though, although Apple may try and cool rumors in this area by “[doubling] down” on their commitment to iTunes music downloads during next week’s WWDC, where Apple will “definitely not” be announcing plans to ditch music downloads.
Do you think Apple — as a forward-looking company always willing to rip off the metaphorical band-aid by ditching old tech — should get rid of iTunes music downloads to show commitment to changing customer habits? Leave your comments below.
Source: Digital Music Trends
