Apple Music Subscription has destroyed my music library

I recently was subscribed to Apple Music for 3 months I guess in that process it decided to upload my entire local music library from Computer 1 and delete the local files from the computer and computer 2 made some songs stream only and deleted them. I have multiple music libraries on different computers running different versions of iTunes because on computer 1 I still prefer the older version of iTunes for my work flow and the computer can not be updated past version Mojave


Computer 1 - Mojave Mac

Computer 2 - Sonama Mac


On the Mojave Mac iTunes has uploaded 56000+ files to the cloud and now that I do not have music on my computer anymore. All of the music has the cloud icon next to it. but with out a Music subscription I can not play any of the songs.


On the Sonama Mac it deleted or removed some songs but not all, I have music in my library that is greyed out and can not locate, and then there are other songs that now says stream instead of the size of the song and when I double click on the song it just tells me I need a music subscription to play the song. I know the song was in my local library because I have date added to my music library from 2017 but I can not find the album on my computer any more.


Why would the subscription delete my local Music files and how do I get access to this music with out an apple subscription. This seems very flawed in the design of Apple Music and they should ask permission before deleting the music from my local library.


Posted on Apr 11, 2024 3:33 PM

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5 replies

Apr 12, 2024 12:05 AM in response to mpsamuels01

Hi,

When you subscribe to Apple Music, you library is scanned to determine which songs can be matched or needed to be uploaded. This process should not change or modify the files on your computer unless to specially opt to remove download and download matched version. There is an option to download AAC, Lossless or Hi-res version. AAC version is DRM free but the others have DRM and will only be available as long as you have Apple Music subscription.


When you turn on Apple Music on your other computer, you library will be scanned and music not already in the iCloud Music library will be matched or uploaded. Music not in library, on this computer will be available for download.


See Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrad… - Apple Community


Jim


Apr 14, 2024 9:25 AM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

I understand it should not change or modify the files on the computer but it also should not change the song info. Lucky enough I was able to load an old iTunes library to find where some of the music was for the Mojave desktop. But this also required me to re add all these songs back to my iTunes Library and remove the songs that have the cloud icon which should not happen under no circumstance. It did not download any new version just left all my music in the cloud only.


This same process did not work for the Sonoma laptop. Those songs that now say stream only are not located locally on my computer any more.


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Apple Music Subscription has destroyed my music library

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