Apple Music not updating play count on Airplay?

I have been having this problem on my iMac (macOS Big Sur 11.4, Music 1.1.5.74) for a long time, very frustrated that play count was not updating when I was playing music from my iMac and using the connected HomePod speakers.

After reading some of the threads here which mentioned airplay, I decided to try playing music to the computer speakers and not using airplay. Sure enough, play counts now update. In fact, if I play the music selecting my computer as the audio output in Music, and then on my computer sound settings I select the HomePod speakers, I can get the sound to the speakers and the play count is now updated.

It seems like an unnecessary work-around but may be worth trying for others who are having this same problem, until Apple fixes an apparent problem with the Music app itself.

macOS Big Sur 11.5 (released Wed 21/07/2021) fixes the issue that caused Music not to update play count and last played date in the music library.

I have the same problem. What does work as a workaround is using Rogue Amoeba's Airfoil to manage the airplaying. This works for me with some additional benefits (like it's easier to fine tune the volume on different speakers). However, this does update playcounts immediately so I'm finding it a preferred solution until apple fixes this.

I discovered another wrinkle: even if the "computer" (system) speakers are selected if the little Airplay indicator is lit (which it shouldn't be if no Airplay speakers are in use) the play count will not update. Restarting the Music app with only the computer speakers selected causes the Airplay light to go out and play counts update as expected. Messy.

Fixed in MacOS 11.5

Same problem here - play count and last played date are mostly not updating when playing to AirPlay devices. Some tracks do but some stubbornly don't.

I have "fixed" this by sending Music output to more than one Airplay device at the same time (I've got a multi-room set up). A bit more investigating seems to imply that just one of my 3 Airplay devices is causing the problem, even though they are all Airports on 7.8.1. I know it's not a fix for all, but it works for me and, hopefully, it might help someone else out there until Apple have a go at it.

I should note that all my music is on my Mac. I don't stream from the web or use Apple Music.

Hey there BlueEyedSoulMan,

Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities. We understand your play count is not updating. We’ll be happy to help with this.

First, try restarting your Mac and your Sonos system:

Log out, sleep, wake, restart, or shut down your Mac

You mentioned that this occurs when you AirPLay to your Sonos system. Does this occur when using AirPlay with another device? If the issue only occurs when using your Sonos system, see if there is an update available for your Sonos system. If you're unsure how to do this, we recommend contacting Sonos.

If the issue persists when you AirPlay to any device, see if this occurs in safe mode:

Start up your Mac in safe mode

If this occurs in safe mode as well, please contact Apple directly here to investigate:

Get Support

Regards.

Interesting thing is, if I set the output from Apple Music to computer and the choosen 'system' audio device is Airpaly, everything works fine, but the audioquality is not as good as playing directly to Airplay, there are sometimes distortions and interruptions.

So maybe it is a kind of buffering issue?

Same here! When I am using "computer" speakers the play count updates as expected. When a HomePod or Sonos are selected the play count does not update, although the played tracks appear in the "history" menu. Oddly, Airport Express speakers DO seem to update play count as expected.

This is incredibly frustrating as I use play counts to regulate a huge number of smart playlists in an effort to ensure that I'm actually listening to my library and not just storing it, and I'm almost always listening on some combination of Airplay devices.

I have: restarted the Music app, restarted the Mac repeatedly, reset NVRAM repeatedly, ticked/unticked "devices share play counts," turned Home Sharing on/off, deleted Music plists, updated Sonos app, restarted Sonos, ensured Sonos firmware up to date, ensured all Homepods are updated. Still doesn't work. I'm thinking since this started immediately after the last update, that the problem was the last update...

Same problem here with Sonos Speakers and AppleTV4, using Airplay from iOS devices works fine, playing from MBA in the same network does not update last played or play count. Even tried setting up a new user with new local iTunes Library and Ethernet only network to rule out WiFi problems. All OS are update ....

I can confirm this, sometime one song gets updated with play count and last played.

My usual pattern is

• first song gets played, but no update for play count etc.
• second second gets played too, but progress bar in the top of the app player window stays at the beginning and does not move
• third song gets played as well, progress bar still hangs on start of the second song
• after the third song, playback stops completly

Sometime is helps hitting the pause/continue button several times, sometime not.

Likewise, Last Played view option does not update when using AirPlay . . . but it does update when using computer audio. I shut down iMac and Airport Express, waited a minute, then restarted both. Problem not fixed. Also looked for firmware update for Airport Express but didn't see one available.

Hi all,

did anyone had a chance to check if the issue still persist in macOS 11.5 beta 5?

According to the feedback assistant there has been a potential fix identified in 11.5.

Thanks :)

For me its getting better after upgrading to Big Sur 11.5.1. I've listened to a whole album/playlist with 10 songs and had no hangup which never happened in the last weeks. Hope this will last