What is iTunes Match?

I've got a slightly different issue, but it's very much around this area.

I have music on my Windows 11 machine. Various stuff I've previously ripped from CD, or downloaded in "the olden days" of Napster and Limewire etc. Possibly even a few legitimately purchased tracks but there's no DRM on any of them. It's about 2500 songs. I'm advised that through Music Match, to which I've subscribed, literally everything I have - it's all pretty mainstream to be honest - SHOULD be able to be "matched" and re-downloaded at a higher quality.

I downloaded iTunes for Windows, and it promptly updated and said it's no longer the tool to use, to get the Apple Music app. I liked the idea of iTunes because I can simply buy the tracks I'd like with no subscription fee. Yes, I've paid for Music Match, but that's for a specific reason and will likely be a once off.

I got the Apple Music app and now it wants me to subscribe at $12.99/month to do anything with it. That's not going to happen. I'm already subscribed to YouTube Premium which gives me YouTube Music for any streaming needs. I'm not paying for another subscription on top of the already existing 8 or 9 streaming subscriptions, given that my need is to have physical tracks I can copy to a USB stick to play in a stereo in a machine at work. Not allowed to stream from phones, or plug a phone in, it HAS to be standalone USB. So my need is, as I said, downloading copies I can actually transfer and use on a USB. I can't purchase from YouTube Music like we used to be able to on Google Play Music.

So how can I tell if my Music Match is doing anything? With iTunes there used to be the little cloud symbol, but there's nothing like that in Apple Music.

Apple Music pretty much refuses to let me see anything beyond searching for tracks/artists without a valid subscription. I'm not going to double up on that just to be able to have the privilege to spend more than $2 per track when I do want to buy, but that's literally going to be a handful every couple of months at best.

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