Downloading our favorite music was, and still is to some degree, an activity that ensures the music we love will always be available. But download sites are slowly disappearing. iTunes, the heavyweight in the field, is not as popular as it once was. Today, 13 years after its launch in 2003, it’s increasingly becoming an outmoded model for music distribution.
In 2000, there was a seismic shift in the music industry––when music went from being physical to being digital. Now, downloads are being replaced by massive audio streaming services, which offer monthly subscription plans to their customers. Soon we might not be able to download music anymore. There are predictions that the whole concept of music downloading will last only 4 more years, at most.
What’s causing this change? Since 2012, music streaming revenue has grown consistently with every passing year. In 2012 and 2013 revenue from streaming was below downloading. But in 2014, streams exceeded downloads for the first time, setting a new trend in the music industry. This year the download decline is continuing, resulting in an even larger gap between downloading and streaming.
If iTunes goes down, Apple Music (Apple’s streaming service) could thrive in its wake, taking over where iTunes left off. Current predictions state that Apple Music will become 10 times bigger than iTunes. If you’d like more info from Apple on how their streaming service will evolve, read this.
New technology always brings about new trends. Why download and store music when you can listen to whatever you want, whenever you want, by using streaming services?
However, transitioning from iTunes to Apple Music is not the smoothest of operations. iTunes users are complaining that it’s a hassle to move from iTunes to Apple Music––that it’s difficult and time consuming, And there seems to be a risk of losing some of your personal files in the process. This can be frustrating, considering that you’re not changing the service provider, just the service.
If you’re a longtime iTunes user, keep your eyes (and ears) open to what transpires in the near future. There will be change, that much is for certain. If you already prefer Apple Music, then you are part of the population that is ahead of the curve.