This document includes some Apple Support documents and user tips relating to iTunes match. Also included are some useful links to external articles.
Subscribe to iTunes Match - Apple Support
iCloud Music Library: Understanding differences between Apple Music and iTunes Match - Apple Support
Use iTunes Match on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or your computer - Apple Support
Get help with iTunes Match - Apple Support
View and remove associated devices in iTunes - Apple Support
Authorize your computer in iTunes - Apple Support
About iCloud Music Library icons and status - Apple Support
Both Apple music and iTunes match are similar in that they scan you iTunes library to determine what can be matched or needs to be uploaded. You can then access the music across your other devices.
The main differences are:
- With iTunes Match, all of the songs that are matched or uploaded using iTunes on your Mac or PC during your iTunes Match subscription can be downloaded DRM-free (if matched) or in their uploaded form and are yours to keep. These songs can continue to play after your iTunes Match subscription ends. However, Apple music adds DRM and you lose access to them after your subscription expires. PS If you have kept your music on your hard drive and also made a back up, this would not be relevant as you would still have access to all your own music after subscriptions expire.
- You can upgrade your matched tracks from lower bit rates - DRM free. If you upgrade and download with Apple music, DRM is added (those tracks will be lost when Apple music subscription expires.
- With Apple music you can access, play and make available offline to music in iTunes store. Access lost once subscription expires. You don't have this with iTunes match.
- The matching process between match and Apple music is different http://www.mcelhearn.com/apple-music-matches-files-with-metadata-only-not-acoust ic-fingerprinting/ The iTunes match process is more accurate but Apple music is a bit more hit and miss as a result. I don't know why they don't use the same matching processes.
Some other tips:
iTunes Match User Tips (May 2016)
Make and keep a backup of your iTunes library, and only stream from the cloud.
Managing iTunes match with over 100k tracks
Some useful links:
http://www.macworld.com/article/2943703/how-itunes-match-and-apple-music-work-to gether.html
http://www.imore.com/how-to-set-up-use-itunes-match
http://www.imore.com/apple-music-vs-itunes-match-whats-difference
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