Is iTunes music Store still available?

Yes, the iTunes music store is still available in 2023. Apple launched the iTunes music store in April 2003, allowing customers to purchase digital music online for the first time. Over the years, iTunes has undergone some changes but it remains Apple’s primary platform for purchasing and downloading digital music.

Table of Contents

Brief history of iTunes music store

When the iTunes music store first launched in 2003, it only offered around 200,000 songs for purchase at a price of $0.99 per song. At the time, this was revolutionary as it provided a legal and convenient way for consumers to download digital music instead of using illegal file sharing services. The iTunes music store was an instant hit, selling over 1 million songs in its first week.

Over the years, the iTunes music library grew exponentially, reaching over 43 million songs by 2018. The service also expanded internationally, launching in Europe in 2004 and more than 100 countries by 2013.

Some key milestones for the iTunes music store include:

April 2003 – iTunes Music Store launches in the US
May 2003 – 1 million songs sold in first week

June 2004 – Launches in Europe
May 2005 – 500 million songs sold
February 2006 – 1 billion songs sold

January 2013 – Launches in over 100 countries
April 2018 – Over 50 billion songs downloaded

In addition to music, iTunes later expanded to offer other types of media like movies, TV shows, apps, audiobooks and more. It quickly became the world’s largest music retailer and a major force in the music industry.

Is iTunes music store still available today?

Yes, despite some changes over the years, the iTunes music store continues to be available in 2023. However, there are a few important things to note:

In 2019, Apple divided iTunes into 3 separate apps on Mac – Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Podcasts. So iTunes as a singular app no longer exists, but its music store lives on in the Apple Music app.
The ability to purchase music remains available on iOS devices like iPhones and iPads via the pre-installed Apple Music app.

Purchased music can still be downloaded to and played on Mac and Windows computers through the Apple Music app.
The iTunes music store is now just one part of the larger Apple Music subscription service.
Apple is clearly shifting focus towards its Apple Music streaming service over digital purchases.

So in summary – the core capability to purchase DRM-protected music from Apple and download it to your devices remains available, but now through the Apple Music app rather than iTunes. The infrastructure and music library that powered the iTunes music store is still running, even if the app itself is fading away.

What music can you purchase on iTunes currently?

Today, the iTunes music store grants access to a catalog of over 75 million songs. This includes both new releases and older music across a variety of genres. When you purchase a song, album or compilation, you own the right to download and play that music forever.

Some things you can purchase include:

Individual songs – singles currently sell for $1.29 in the US.
Full albums – prices vary but most new releases sell for around $10-15.
Compilations and exclusive bundles.

Mastered for iTunes versions – enhanced versions of albums.
Pre-orders of upcoming releases.
Music videos – sold alongside or bundled with songs.

Apple claims that the iTunes music catalog contains most major Western music recorded in the past century. However, there can be gaps as some artists or labels choose not to sell their music through iTunes.

How do purchases work?

When you purchase music off the iTunes music store today, here is the general process:

Search for music using Apple Music app on iOS device, Mac, PC or the iTunes music store website.

Purchase song/album – charged to your Apple ID payment method.
Download the music file(s) to your device.
Music is added to your Apple Music app library alongside any streamed content.

Songs have DRM protection restricting playback to Apple devices logged into your account.
You can download your purchased music to an unlimited number of devices.
Purchased music remains available even if it is later pulled from the iTunes catalog.

So in summary, purchasing music from iTunes gives you the digital files to keep perpetually. You can later re-download your music if you get a new device. The convenience comes at the cost of DRM restrictions tied to your Apple ID.

Why use iTunes music store today?

Here are some of the key reasons you may still want to purchase music from the iTunes music store in 2023:

Ownership – you keep the music files forever regardless of what happens to streaming licenses.

High quality – music is often mastered for iTunes at higher quality than streaming services.
Reliability – purchases are not affected if you lose internet access temporarily.
Support artists – some fans still like purchasing to directly support their favorite acts.

Collect music – downloading allows you to build a personal collection.
Convenience – seamless buying process and syncs across Apple devices.

While streaming now dominates music consumption, the iTunes music store still appeals to those looking to own music or collect it for the long term. It can be the best option for building up a digital music library.

Limitations and downsides

Despite its benefits, the iTunes music store does come with some drawbacks to consider:

DRM protection limits playback to Apple devices.
No streaming option – must download all files.

Apple charges slightly higher prices than other stores.
Library has gaps compared to streaming catalogs.
Purchased music does not include lyrics.

Less relevant in the streaming era.

The closed ecosystem and DRM are often cited as the biggest frustrations. Downloading files also lacks the convenience of streaming access. These downsides have contributed to the declining relevance of digital music purchases in general.

How does it compare to streaming?

The iTunes music store differs from music streaming services in a few key ways:

iTunes Music Store	Streaming (e.g. Apple Music, Spotify)
Purchase and download files to own forever	Pay monthly fee for access but do not own music
Higher quality files often available	Varying streaming quality depending on plan and connection
Listen offline by syncing music to devices	Requires stable internet connection to stream
Smaller catalog of ~75 million songs	Larger catalogs of over 80 million songs
à la carte pricing – pay per song/album	All you can stream monthly subscription

In summary, purchasing music on iTunes provides ownership of files to keep while streaming offers convenience and extensive catalogs. iTunes still appeals for building owned collections while streaming fits casual listening.

Is iTunes necessary for iPhones?

No, iTunes is no longer required for setting up or syncing music on iPhones. Some key points:

You can activate and set up new iPhones directly on the device itself without connecting to a computer.

Syncing music libraries and purchased content is done wirelessly over iCloud.
The Apple Music app on iPhones lets you access both purchased content and streaming.
If you do connect to a computer, the Apple Music app replaces iTunes for transfers.

So you can fully enjoy music on an iPhone without ever touching iTunes. Purchases and downloads occur directly on the phone over the internet. iTunes really only remains for users still managing purchased content on their computer.

Is iTunes going away completely?

While the days of iTunes as a centralized desktop app are over, the infrastructure behind it is not going anywhere. Apple still relies on the iTunes music store and all the technology powering it behind the scenes.

It is unlikely that Apple will get rid of the ability to purchase music outright any time soon. However, iTunes as we know it continues to fade into the background of Apple’s music strategy.

Signs iTunes is slowly going away

iTunes app discontinued on Mac and Windows.
Apple Music replaces iTunes for syncing content.
Focus shifting to streaming subscriptions.

DRM-free music sales declining industry-wide.
Artists and fans moving to streaming.
Lack of major iTunes updates or innovations.

While the signs clearly point to iTunes fading away, the infrastructure is so massive that Apple will likely maintain purchasable downloads for the foreseeable future. But it is now just a secondary element of their music strategy.

Why Apple won’t eliminate purchases completely

Many existing customers have large purchased libraries – risky to abandon them completely.
Purchases still appeal to some fans who want to “own” music.

Facilitates sales of compilation albums and exclusives.
Important source of incremental revenue, even if small compared to streaming.
Transitioning iTunes user base to streaming takes time.

Eliminating music purchases would be a dramatic move that risks alienating many existing users. So while iTunes’ role diminishes, Apple is unlikely to remove the option of buying music completely.

Conclusion

The iTunes music store remains available in 2023, albeit with a diminished role compared to the glory days of digital music purchases. Customers can still use Apple Music apps on Mac, Windows, iOS and more to buy songs, albums or compilations. Downloads require an Apple ID and are restricted by DRM to Apple devices.

While streaming services now dominate, the iTunes music store still appeals to collectors looking to build owned libraries. However, iTunes as centralized desktop software is fading away in favor of Apple Music and direct downloads on devices.

Purchasing from the iTunes music catalog remains an option for now. But Apple continues nudging users towards its Apple Music streaming service for most listening needs. The shift towards streaming means the prominence of iTunes music purchases will likely continue to decline, even if not disappear completely.