What is iTunes Match?

Have you received an answer? I have been using iTunes since at least 2007 and I have only JUST a week ago purchased iTunes Match and so far I do not know what it has done for me. I am still not able to play anything from my iTunes library, even if it says "Matched" the DMA restricts the AVR (using HEOS app to stream Airplay 2) from playing anything in that (HEOS) library. The only option is having the sever (My PC) with iTunes open and using Apple Music on my iOS devices selecting "home sharing" option. I may have previously purchased a subscription to iTunes match way back years ago, but I haven't ever seen it in my purchases until now, with my subscription on May 1, 2024.

Hi,

See Use the Finder to sync your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with your Mac – Apple Support (UK)

Can’t comment on sync iPhone to car don’t have iPhone, I use SD Card!!

Jim

Thanks Jim

That’s a good idea! I assume I can find the phone number here in the community? Thank you very much. I just wondering how something is going to expire that I didn’t even know I had.! 🤭🧐

Thanks! I was fixing my dogs dinner so I hadn’t had time yet. I wish I thought about this before because I use Google every day, sometimes several times a day researching stuff! Thanks again!

Hi,

Make sure that all music has been downloaded to your computer and make a backup on an external drive.

Jim

i believe iTunes match is used for people who still have actual CD content uploaded into iTunes. Music is mainly for digital content I believe. again im no expert

I now have what I believe is the most definitive answer to this iTunes Match question, that it will be possible to get. I called Apple support and spoke with someone there for about a half hour, she went and pestered numerous other people including some engineers. Here's the bottom line:

All feature functionality of iTunes Match, is indeed now included in Apple Music. So everything iTunes Match does, Apple Music does.

What is NOT included, is the storage involved with iTunes Match. If you use iTunes Match then when you upload your music, it goes into its own bucket of cloud storage. If you cancel your Apple Music subscription, you would still have full access to anything and everything you uploaded to iTunes Match. Your CD rips, SoundCloud downloads, personally generated music - everything.

Here's the rub: If you have a bunch of personal music that you've uploaded but do NOT have iTunes Match, then when you cancel your Apple Music subscription, you can kiss ALL of that music goodbye. Forever. If you didn't have another backup of it somewhere, then it's gone. Oh and it is also entirely possible (she didn't sound 100% certain on this one) that your uploaded music, even your own personally-generated songs, will have Apple DRM on them once uploaded to Apple Music. Not sure that this happens with iTunes Match, I don't think it does but have no way I can confidently prove/disprove it.

So basically iTunes Match is a cloud storage option. Personally I don't think I'll ever drop Apple Music so I plan to drop iTunes Match at long last.

Hope this helps someone out!