iTunes Brand's Slow Demise Continues as Apple Updates URLs for App Web Listings

Apple switched its URL structure for hosting app listings on the web this week, in another sure sign that the company is gradually moving on from its all-encompassing 18-year-old iTunes brand.

When viewing an iOS or Mac app listing on the web, the URL address now contains apps.apple.com, where previously it was itunes.apple.com.

The change follows similar URL updates reported earlier this month for songs and music artists, which now direct to music.apple.com rather than the old itunes.apple.com nomenclature.

Apple is also in the process of replacing all iTunes links for podcasts, TV shows, movies, and books with category-specific links such as podcasts.apple.com, tv.apple.com, movies.apple.com, and books.apple.com. The company has also wiped all its iTunes pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Apple's move away from the iTunes brand for its web-hosted storefront follows its decision to sunset the iTunes app and replace it with standalone Music, Podcasts, and TV apps as part of macOS Catalina, unveiled last week and coming in the fall.

Apple says users' existing iTunes music libraries will be imported automatically when they update to the new macOS, and the iTunes Store will live on in the new Music app's sidebar to allow users to buy music on Mac, iOS, and Apple TV. However syncing iOS devices like iPhones and iPads on Mac will take place in Finder instead.

Thanks, Micah!

Tag: iTunes

Top Rated Comments

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rhett7660

13 months ago

I love the fact, you go back through the pages of Macrumors and do a search for iTunes and the amount of posts calling for the end of iTunes, or break up iTunes, or... with iTunes is funny. Now that they are finally doing it, people are complaining about it. Now granted some of the folks complaining probably were not part of the community back then. But it is still funny.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

miniyou64

What a mistake on Apple’s part to devalue such brand recognition. Crazy

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

az431

How is it a mistake? The iTunes branding as applied to anything other than songs has always been confusing, especially when apps are purchased on the App Store and not on iTunes. Given that, it's a wild leap to say that the iTunes name is what sells apps.

Even when applied to songs it is pretty clear people could care less whether it is "Apple Music" or "iTunes."

For most people, the name iTunes is a dated, bloated, and overall crappy app that should have died 10 years ago.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Sharewaredemon

I'm interested in what they are going to call iTunes U, which, at this time is still using it in the URL:
https://itunesu.itunes.apple.com/coursemanager/

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)