How iTunes Redefined the Way We Listen to Music
- 5 years ago
How iTunes Redefined the Way We Listen to Music The company opted to split iTunes' services into "Music" "TV" and "Podcasts" apps instead. But it's the end of an era —
iTunes changed both how we
listen to music, and the music industry itself. iTunes' 2001 launch came right as artists had been suing file sharing services for stealing their music. They began selling music through the iTunes Store in 2003, ensuring artists' royalties were paid. But it also responded to listeners' tastes — fans were buying singles rather than albums. It offered a superior interface to other services at the time, and its success grew. In fact, the streaming services that have overtaken iTunes' popularity recently are key to Apple's future. Apple music's 56 million subscribers will use the new apps — and have access to their previously downloaded iTunes content.
iTunes changed both how we
listen to music, and the music industry itself. iTunes' 2001 launch came right as artists had been suing file sharing services for stealing their music. They began selling music through the iTunes Store in 2003, ensuring artists' royalties were paid. But it also responded to listeners' tastes — fans were buying singles rather than albums. It offered a superior interface to other services at the time, and its success grew. In fact, the streaming services that have overtaken iTunes' popularity recently are key to Apple's future. Apple music's 56 million subscribers will use the new apps — and have access to their previously downloaded iTunes content.