End of iTunes Music Downloads are Imminent, But What Will Happen to Your Songs?

In May of this year, we originally reported that Apple was considering bringing a slow but certain end to its once thriving era of iTunes music downloads. Although, while word of the impending cessation began to circulate the web like wildfire, a representative for the Cupertino-company came out indicating that the rumors simply “were not true.”

However, even more recent reports appear to lend credence to the notion that iTunes music downloads may very well, indeed, be phased out — perhaps over the next few years, depending on several key variables.

According to a number of “sources with close knowledge of the company’s plans,” Apple continues to explore the possibility of phasing out iTunes music downloads as we know them. The Cupertino-company could even do this, as these sources indicate, over the next few years — depending on a number of important factors.

These factors include how rapidly Apple Music continues to attract subscribers, (specifically in relation to how rapidly traditional iTunes music downloads continue to taper off), as well as the result of any “unstable internal political atmosphere” up at Apple’s 1 Infinite Loop headquarters.

These same sources have also indicated that they believe Apple may persist to quell any rumors about an end to iTunes music downloads, perhaps even by “doubling down” on its commitment to them during next week’s Worldwide Developers Conference — although that much still remains to be seen.

For some, it might be reasonable to assume why Apple might make this move — particularly if Apple Music, the company’s on-demand music streaming service, continues to gain traction at its inherent rate.

If Apple ultimately does put an end to its iconic iTunes music downloads, which have, as of 2013, surpassed the whopping 25 billion milestone (and counting), many users might wonder “what’s going to happen to all of my songs?”

Well, first of all: songs purchased via iTunes are, and will always, be yours. You paid the $0.99 a song, or $11.99 an album — 70% of which went directly to the artist and their respective record labels, so you’ll always get to keep them, regardless of what happens.

Secondly, with iTunes downloads reportedly declining in recent months, Apple may be slowly waking up to the fact that some people simply prefer the Cupertino-company’s “all-you-can-eat” Apple Music subscriptions, instead — whereby investing just $9.99 per month (or $4.99 for students), they’re able to listen to millions of tracks at their heart’s desire.

Of course, we all know that Apple is a forward-thinking company, with its eyes constantly set on the future and evolving trends being considered behind closed doors. So while we may be sitting on the sidelines for quite a while on this one, perhaps Apple has some surprises in store for us, as always, and we’ll just have to wait to find out about them.

Would you be upset if Apple put an end to iTunes music downloads? Let us know in the comments!