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“iTunes Is Shutting Down”. It was this week’s headline that either gave you a momentary heart attack or had you down right confused. On Monday, rumours had begun to surface suggesting that Californian tech giant Apple was shutting down its 18-year-old iTunes service. Speculations ran at an all-time high but after yesterday’s 2019 Worldwide Development Conference (WWDC) event, we now have clarity over the overhaul.
After almost two decades of the beloved iTunes platform albeit outdated, many users were initially worried about the precious content that had been curated over the years. From purchased tracks to ripped mix CDs, Apple has assured it fans that all its music will remain. In the place of iTunes, three dedicated apps for music, television and podcasts – much like the iPhone – will make way onto the Mac.
This transition will take place with the macOS Catalina software update and will serve as a simplified and improved way to enjoy content. When you make the update, music currently in your library will automatically migrate to the respective app.
“The new Music app for Mac is lightning fast, fun and easy to use. Apple Music will help users discover great new music with over 50 million songs, playlists and music videos,” reads a press release. “And users will have access to their entire music library, whether they downloaded the songs, purchased them or ripped them from a CD. For those who like to own their music, the iTunes Music Store is just a click away.”
When the update for Mac as well as iOS13 arrives later this year, there will still be an iTunes Store where you can purchase to own film and music, rather than just streaming it. In the meantime, we still suggest backing up any content in a cloud or hard-drive to be safe. No one wants to lose their decade-old copy of ‘The Real Slim Shady’.
For more information on new features coming to Apple this year, visit the newsroom here.
