What does the death of iTunes mean for iTunes Match users?

The rumours of the death of iTunes have been somewhat exaggerated. iTunes is staying exactly the same except for those who install the next version of macOS 10.15 Catalina where the functions will be split between three new apps and Finder, the Mac equivalent to Windows Explorer. There is no suggestion that I've heard of that iTunes Match will be discontinued.

tt2

Yes, I am very worried about this too. I don’t want Apple Music. I am happy with a limited library and iTunes Match. 4000 songs is all I’ll ever need. I rarely listen to or like new music. I am expecting the worst in that when they change it all up many iCloud music libraries will get hosed. Over past 15 years or so I have bought from iTunes about 800 songs. Will they remain safe in the iCloud ?

i am unclear still, will we still be able to buy/download music? I have no issue paying 99p every now and then on the rare occasion I hear something new that I like.

James Jepsen wrote:

I am a long time user of iTunes (back when it was still Music Match Jukebox...yes I'm dating myself).

Actually, it was Sound Jam MP. But, I know what you mean. I even still have my Sound Jam install CD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes

My point was that the code for the original iTunes was derived from SoundJam after Apple bought it. They later ported it to Window.

I was a little late to the Napter game. My favorite was eMusic which, for something like $10-20 (I forget which), you could download as much as you want. To keep. Forever. They didn't have all the most popular, top of the charts stuff but they had some amazing finds that are still part of my music library.