[Solution] Stop iTunes from downloading Album Artwork

iTunes downloads it even when "Automatically download Album Artwork" is disabled in the Preferences, and so a possible solution is to go to %USERPROFILE%\Music\iTunes\Album Artwork and delete all its content and then right click the folder > Properties > check Read-only, then go to the Security tab > Advanced > Disable inheritance > Convert inherited permissions > Double click on each of the permissions lines and uncheck everything but the Read permission and click OK

Hope this is helpful :)