iTunes

iTunes music sales dipped sharply since start of 2014 as iPod turned 13 yesterday

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2018

If you need another proof that Apple made the right move dropping more than three billion bucks on Beats's audio accessories and music-streaming service, here's one.

According to people familiar with the matter who spoke to the Wall Street Journal on Friday, the decline of digital music sales on iTunes is accelerating with latest data showing between a thirteen and fourteen percent dip globally since the start of this year.

By comparison, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry estimated that global revenue from music downloads fell just 2.1 percent in 2013. Clearly this development doesn't bode well for iTunes, but can Apple do anything about it? Read on for the full reveal.

Apple releases iTunes 12.0.1 for OS X Yosemite

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Following the release of OS X Yosemite this afternoon, Apple quickly pushed out iTunes 12.0.1. As you know, Yosemite includes a refreshed edition of iTunes marked as version 12, and this is an update for the folks who are using the new software.

Not much is mentioned in the change log in terms of what's new in 12.0.1, but it does note that at least one of the changes has to do with security. And given its release time, and .1 build number, we imagine that it includes other bug fixes as well.

Tons of rock albums are currently on sale on iTunes

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

I don't know about you but I'm a big rock fan. From my punk rock roots to my alternative music adulthood, I've always been more attracted to loud guitars than electronic beats or vinyl disc scratches. While I listen to many different styles of music, rock & roll still is my go-to genre.

If like me you're a rock fan, or if you just like to listen to a little bit of everything, you'll sure want to have a look at this sale going on in iTunes right now on some major rock albums, all having been discounted to only $7.99.

Get Ghostbusters 1 and 2, and other movie bundles for just $9.99 right now

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Great news movie fans! iTunes is offering up some excellent deals on a number of movie bundles for a limited time. You can score Ghostbusters 1 and 2, Bad Boys 1 and 2, and several other bundles for $9.99—a nice savings of $16 and $6, respectively.

While the iTunes Store has a permanent Movie Bundles section that offers film packages at cheaper-than-full-retail prices, these particular double features have been further discounted—some by more than $20. We have a full list of the bundles below.

Apple revamps iTunes Store in iTunes 12 ahead of OS X Yosemite launch

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple has rolled out a revamped version of its desktop iTunes Store to iTunes 12 today. Folks with access to the developer preview or public beta of OS X Yosemite should see the new storefront with various changes including cleaner, flatter design elements.

As you can see in the image above, Apple has axed the 3D rotating carousel of featured content in favor of a new card-style layout. There's also no longer a backdrop shadow behind the album art, or in the navigation buttons, and the fonts have been changed.

Apple says U2 ‘Songs of Innocence’ album has been downloaded 26 million times

Cody Lee ∙ October 9, 2014

The controversial U2 album 'Songs of Innocence' has been downloaded nearly 30 million times since Apple announced it would be available to iTunes users for free last month. In a statement to Billboard on Thursday, senior VP Eddy Cue said that the album had racked up 26 million 'complete downloads' since its September 9 debut.

Cue adds that over 81 million Apple customers have experienced Songs of Innocence within the last month—a number that includes Beats Music, iTunes, and iTunes Radio streams. "To help put this into perspective," Cue says, "prior to this, a total of 14 million customers had purchased music from U2 since iTunes opened in 2003."

O2 customers can now purchase iTunes credit and have it charged to their wireless bill

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 29, 2014

Telefónica-owned UK carrier O2 announced via a press release on Monday that its customers can now buy iTunes credit and have the purchase charged directly to their monthly wireless bill. Furthermore, customers can also purchase iTunes credit by taking it out of their Pay & Go phone credit.

The development is part of Charge to Mobile, an alternative method of payment already used by over a hundred merchants in the United Kingdom through O2’s online and mobile channels. Folks can use Charge to Mobile to pay for digital content, with O2 claiming that its customers have made over ten million transactions to date.

Apple rumored to unveil rebranded Beats Music service in February

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 20, 2018

Following up on yesterday's news that Apple is looking to sunset the Beats Music brand, Recode reports today that Apple has picked a timeframe for when it wants to unveil the new service. The site says it hopes to make the introduction sometime in early February, possibly time to the Grammy Awards.

Recode's John Paczkowski hedges on the claim, calling it "a guess backed up by some industry scuttlebutt," but given his track record in predicting Apple's plans, we'd be crazy not to pay attention. The one thing he hasn't heard, however, is what the company plans on calling the new subscription service.

U2’s Bono says Apple has 885 million iTunes accounts, talks new music format

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 22, 2014

Paul David Hewson aka Bono Vox (also known by his stage name Bono), the frontman of the Dublin-based rock band U2, revealed that Apple now has an astounding 885 million iTunes accounts in an interview Monday with Dave Fanning on the Irish radio station 2FM.

Moreover, he shed more light on the rumored new music format designed to revitalize stagnant digital downloads. The 54-year-old rocker also said he complained to Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs five years ago that the iTunes application “looks like a spreadsheet” and more.

How to setup a new iPhone from an iTunes backup

IDB Staff ∙ Updated April 14, 2017

We previously wrote a guide on how to setup a new iPhone from an iCloud backup, but that is limited by the fact that Apple only gives you 5 GB of free storage. If you have more than 5 GB of music, apps and other data, and you do not wish to pay for additional iCloud storage, you will have to resort to an iTunes backup. Read ahead for step-by-step instructions on how to setup a new iPhone from an iTunes backup.

Apple: new U2 album accessed by 33 million users thus far

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple issued a statement this afternoon from Senior Vice President Eddy Cue regarding its new U2 album promotion. Cue says that over 33 million iTunes account holders have accessed "Songs of Innocence" since the promo launched last week.

Mr. Cue called the number "record-breaking," but didn't elaborate. He did, however, note that the figure includes customers who downloaded the album from their iCloud account, streamed it, or listened to it in iTunes Radio's First Play channel.

U2’s “free” album download cost Apple $100 million, other projects with U2 on the way

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 12, 2014

As people continue to freak out over Apple’s forced iTunes download of U2’s new album titled “Songs of Innocence,” the New York Times newspaper has learned from sources that the value of the arrangement between the iPhone maker and the aging Irish rock band is in the ballpark of $100 million.

“To release U2’s album free, Apple paid the band and Universal an unspecified fee as a blanket royalty and committed to a marketing campaign for the band worth up to $100 million, according to several people briefed on the deal,” writes NYT.

And according to the band’s manager Guy Oseary, the Cupertino firm has other U2-backed music related projects in the works.