Before I subscribed to Apple Music, I used to be able to buy songs/albums from Apple and then use them in playlists and, most importantly, in non-Apple apps. This is incredibly useful for learning music (and hearing it in different musical keys). Now, even though I *just* bought a song from Apple, I cannot save it as a file someplace and use it with a different app.
What gives? How can I do that?
Earlier Mac models
The songs you download from the Apple Music service are not able to be used on non-Apple devices because you do not own the song. Downloading allows you to you listen to the song when not connected to the internet, but you cannot save it to another format or use it like you did with the songs that you did purchase and own. You can still purchase songs when subscribed to Apple Music to allow you to use them anyway you want like you did before. You may just need to go to Music > Settings > General and check the iTunes Store to show up in your sidebar so they can be purchased there.
The Apple Music service, like the other streaming services, allows you to listen to any song you want without owning any of them. That is very different from purchasing a song from the iTunes Store.
The songs you download from the Apple Music service are not able to be used on non-Apple devices because you do not own the song. Downloading allows you to you listen to the song when not connected to the internet, but you cannot save it to another format or use it like you did with the songs that you did purchase and own. You can still purchase songs when subscribed to Apple Music to allow you to use them anyway you want like you did before. You may just need to go to Music > Settings > General and check the iTunes Store to show up in your sidebar so they can be purchased there.
The Apple Music service, like the other streaming services, allows you to listen to any song you want without owning any of them. That is very different from purchasing a song from the iTunes Store.
If you are using the Music application on macOS Catalina or later, and can't find the iTunes Store,
You should now see an iTunes Store option in the Music window sidebar.
When I run the app, I don’t see a button for music and I have tried every button in there trying to find so I can select this. Is there anyway you can be more specific as to where I find this? I would like to be able to purchase music not just listen to it while I have the subscription.
In recent OS versions, you can go to Music > Settings > General > Show, and select iTunes Store. You will then have the iTunes Store tab in the sidebar where you can purchase songs.
If you do not find the option there, then specify your OS version or provide a screenshot of what you are seeing on the screen.
JamesUUCH Said:
"How do I buy a music song *as a file* now that I'm a Apple Music subscriber?: Before I subscribed to Apple Music, I used to be able to buy songs/albums from Apple and then use them in playlists and, most importantly, in non-Apple apps.[...]"
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Finding Music:
You actually are purchasing them for use. If you were to cancel your Apple ID, then all would be inaccessible. As for locating these, you'd have to download them to access them. Once download them, go here:
/Users/[username]/Music/Music
I wonder if you've got Sync Library turned on in your iTunes preferences. This link suggests that using that feature of Apple Music (or subscribing to the similar iTunes Match) could interfere with iTunes-based playlist syncing:
My music playlists are not syncing to my … - Apple Community
iTunes 12.8.3 for High Sierra lets you access both Apple Music and the iTunes Store.
Thank you all for your answers.
My guess is that the problem is that I'm running an older than Catalina (High Sierra). There is no app named "Music." There is only iTunes. So, this is the first instance where I'm actually bummed out that Apple makes such good products. I'm not able to upload more recent versions due to the age of my computer... and I'm not willing to spend $1,000 on a new computer until this things stops working.
I do have the Music app on my iPhone, but even when I download the song onto my iPhone, it's interpreted as locked by my non-apple app (Anytunes pro). I have bought it from Apple, it's downloaded on my phone, the Anytunes app can see the download, but is being told it cannot open the song. Very frustrating.
Thanks again, though, for you help.
Cool, you understand.
Yes, I can and have accessed both. But I cannot get iTunes to allow me to create a playlist, even of *purchased* songs, and load them onto my iPhone. It's very frustrating. The m4a file (purchased through Apple Music/iTunes) and an .mp3 file (purchase from Amazon out of frustration and hope that it would work) are sitting right there in my computer. I can see them. I cannot get them onto my iPhone.
I have purchased them. Paid the ~$0.99. There should be no block on my rights to the files.
When I run the app, I don’t see a button for music and I have tried every button in there trying to find so I can select this. Is there anyway you can be more specific as to where I find this? I would like to be able to purchase music not just listen to it while I have the subscription.
This is what I see when I open the Music app. I have a iPhone 14 pro which the software for that is up-to-date. I don’t know where to find the version of Apple Music that I’m running.
How do I buy a music song *as a file* now that I'm a Apple Music subscriber?