HT204962: iCloud Music Library: Understanding differences between Apple Music and iTunes Match

Learn about iCloud Music Library: Understanding differences between Apple Music and iTunes Match
dcsuiter

Q: Is it necessary to have subscriptions to both Apple Music and iTunes Match?

Currently I am a subscriber to iTunes Match and trying out the new Apple Music.  Is it necessary to subscribe to both when subscribed to Apple Music?  I don't see a need to pay for both since Apple Music makes all of your iTunes library available via iCloud.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Jul 28, 2015 9:09 AM

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Q: Is it necessary to have subscriptions to both Apple Music and iTunes Match?

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  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Jul 28, 2015 9:12 AM in response to dcsuiter
    Level 7 (27,382 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 28, 2015 9:12 AM in response to dcsuiter

    Nope. If you are going to subscribe to Apple Music, you can cancel the subscription to Match.

     

    Just make sure you have all your music downloaded from Match before canceling it.  Apple Music will again go through your library and upload to iCloud.

  • by Mobile Blues,

    Mobile Blues Mobile Blues Jul 28, 2015 9:40 AM in response to dcsuiter
    Level 4 (1,820 points)
    Jul 28, 2015 9:40 AM in response to dcsuiter
  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Jul 28, 2015 9:52 AM in response to Mobile Blues
    Level 7 (27,382 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 28, 2015 9:52 AM in response to Mobile Blues

    What is not the case?

     

    Yes they can be used together, but its not necessary to use them together.

  • by Mobile Blues,

    Mobile Blues Mobile Blues Jul 28, 2015 10:16 AM in response to Phil0124
    Level 4 (1,820 points)
    Jul 28, 2015 10:16 AM in response to Phil0124

    As I understand it this is the difference....

     

    "With iTunes Match, all of the songs that we 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."

     

    So if I'm reading that right, when or if your Apple Music subscription expires or is cancelled the songs that were matched will not be available or be able to play, whereas they would be under iTunes Match. If that is not the case then I stand corrected.

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Jul 28, 2015 11:02 AM in response to Mobile Blues
    Level 7 (27,382 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 28, 2015 11:02 AM in response to Mobile Blues

    The songs that were matched or uploaded will not be able to be played once Apple Music Expires, however, your music collection is still your own, and on your computer it is not removed.

     

    Apple Music does not delete your music. It merely makes available versions of your matched music to all your devices from Apple's servers. and uploads whatever it can't match.

     

    Your music collection will still exist on your computer unless you delete it.

     

    iTunes Match takes all your music uploads it to iCloud and converts all matched music to 256Kbps versions for your to download.  You can download these at will and will continue to play after the iTunes Match subscription is cancelled.  Because  its all your music only in a better format. But it must be downloaded to your computer.

    https://www.apple.com/itunes/itunes-match/

    What happens if I don’t resubscribe after the first year?
    Will I lose any upgraded songs?No. Any songs you’ve upgraded or downloaded again are completely safe. The only thing you lose is the central storage — iCloud will no longer stream or download matched or uploaded songs to your devices.

     

     

    With that said, however, none of this precludes the usage of Apple Music without using iTunes Match.  Its just they work slightly differently.

     

    That is you can use it fine without it. You will just need to keep your music library locally backed up which you should be doing any way.