The end of the iTunes era

The next major update of the MacOS will officially end the era of iTunes for Apple users. iTunes will be divided into three separate apps known as Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts. All three of these apps are designed to simplify the user experience and make it easy for anyone to access their favourite songs, TV shows, and podcasts. Each user will also retain access to their existing library of files, as all of your downloaded music and ripped CDs will be automatically imported from iTunes to the brand new Apple Music app.

Why Did Apple Decide to Retire iTunes?

iTunes has been around for over 18 years, as it revolutionised the way people purchase music. Instead of going to the store to buy a new CD, iTunes gave users the freedom to purchase music from home and download it to their iPhone or iPod. However, the rise of streaming music services has surpassed the popularity of iTunes, as more people prefer to stream music than purchase albums or individual songs. iTunes has also faced criticism over the years due to excessive bloatware. Trying to manage all of your songs, ebooks, videos, and podcasts in one location made iTunes much slower to load and created a frustrating experience for many users.

When Will The Next Update Be Available?

The MacOS Catalina update will be available in the fall of 2019, and it will officially replace the iTunes store for Apple users. Synching your iPhone and iPad will now be handled by the Finder app, which is Apple’s file management system. For now, iTunes will remain available for anyone that uses Microsoft Windows. iTunes is still one of the most successful apps on the Microsoft Store, and no plans have been announced to end support for Microsoft Windows yet.

Other Popular Music Options

Many other online music platforms are available for anyone that is looking to replace iTunes.

Spotify enables users to stream music for free, or you can purchase the premium edition to experience more features, including ad-free listening.

Tidal is a subscription-based streaming service that offers over 60 million songs with high-quality sound and exclusive content.

Soundcloud is another popular music platform that is an excellent place to discover new artists.

Deezer is a music streaming service based in France that continues to grow and expand into more than 180 countries.

Youtube Music is also a great option, as it allows you to store music offline and listen to a variety of songs. Depending on your needs, nearly all of these music options offer both free and premium services.

iTunes made a significant impact on the music industry for over 18 years and revolutionised the way people purchased their favourite songs. However, technology never stays the same for long, as streaming music online became much more popular than downloading songs on the iTunes store. Apple hopes that the upcoming MacOS update will create a much better user experience, as Apple Music will still retain the core features of iTunes without all of the extra fluff that built up over the years. iTunes will soon be replaced for Mac users, but it will always have a lasting legacy on the digital music industry.