Any OSX tool to batch remove (or convert) embedded album artwork in MP3 files?
You can use id3v2 to remove all artwork from your mp3 files. I appreciate your wanting to avoid compiling and the like, so below is an easier way to get the tool onto your Mac.

Remove all artwork with id3v2

The following command will iterate over mp3 files found in the current folder and remove any embedded artwork:

id3v2 -r "APIC" *.mp3


The following command will iterate over mp3 files found in one layer of folders deep:

id3v2 -r "APIC" */*.mp3


homebrew – how to get id3v2 onto your Mac

To install id3v2 on your Mac, without needing to delve too deeply into compiling and other developer concerns, use homebrew.

Follow the instructions on the homebrew link to get started. Once homebrew is available on your Mac, you can install id3v2 using the command:

brew install id3v2


To remove id3v2 from your Mac use:

brew remove id3v2


Other Approaches

There are other tools that can manipulate mp3 tags and artwork. Most are available through the homebrew project and thus you can quickly try them out.

See Re-encode uploaded/submitted MP3's with LAME removing artwork but keeping ID3 tags for other approaches using lame or more general tools in command line tool to edit mp3 ID3 tags.