Why do I need to pay Apple to listen to my own music collection?

You don't need to have a subscription to Apple Music or to Apple Match to listen to your own purchased music.

You can import purchased songs (from CDs, the iTunes Store, the Amazon MP3 store, etc.) into the music library on your Mac, and load them onto an iPhone, iPad, or iPod with the aid of a cable and Finder or iTunes-based "manual" synchronization.

However, if you want songs on one device to "automatically" show up on others, you do have to subscribe to iTunes Match, or to subscribe to Apple Music (with the Sync Library feature turned on). Apple may then "match" songs in your library against songs in their huge database, and download "matched" songs to your other devices.

I could be mistaken, but from what I've heard, if you have an Apple Music subscription, "matched" copies may have DRM on them.

TheLittles wrote:

"soranami"

"Why do I need to pay Apple to listen to my own music collection?: [...]When I wanna play sth on my Mac from my own library (e.g. stuff I've uploaded from my own purchased CDs), I get a pop-up saying I need to have a paid subscription to Apple Music or Match.[...]"

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Accessing Home Music Between Devices:

Go Here: Apple Music - 1. Apple

As it Reads: "And listen across all your devices, online or off.1. "

You need an Applle Music Plan for this. This is the way Apple has Apple Music set up. Elsewise, you'd have to export it as their own MP3 files, and then play them across iCloud on an app like QuickTime Player.

That's a page promoting the Apple Music subscription service.

The OP wants to use the Music application to listen to music purchased on CD. That doesn't require an Apple Music subscription (unless something has drastically changed for the worse in Sonoma).

It just requires importing the music into Music, then selecting one of the sidebar categories under the "Library" heading to browse the library. Note that the Search field at the very top of the sidebar – above "Apple Music" – seems to be for the Apple Music service only, and not something of any use for searching one's own collection.

As noted by others the Apple Music and iTunes Match subscription services are optional. You should be able to import locally stored media to your library such that you can play it in the Apple Music app. You should also get access to your past unhidden purchase history with the iTunes Store which can be streamed on demand. Songs you add to a library on one computer don't automatically turn up in any other library unless you use one of the aforementioned services. If you see this prompt when attempting to play what should be locally stored media that would appear to be in error. Have you subscribed to either service in the past? Is this issue affecting ripped tracks or store content?

tt2

Tap:

Music > Settings > General

and unselect 'Show Apple Music'.

See Move your iTunes/Music library to a new computer - Apple Community for general advice on moving your library from one computer to another.

See If songs are missing from your music library after you turn on Sync Library - Apple Support for advice when you don't see the same content in two libraries that are both supposed to be connected to your cloud library with Apple Music or iTunes Match. The discrepancies may be down to tracks in the source library that have not been successfully matched or uploaded. You may have content that is waiting, removed, error, excluded, etc.

tt2

Servant of Cats Said:

"[...]The OP wants to use the Music application to listen to music purchased on CD. That doesn't require an Apple Music subscription (unless something has drastically changed for the worse in Sonoma).[...]"

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Streaming Music in Apple Music:

Streaming and accessing music across your Music Library sure does require a Plan, and that's the way I'm comprehending the OP's post. Secondly, you don't "uploaded from my own purchased CDs" as the OP put it; you either "upload to", or "download from", a storage device. So, seems to me its already been downloaded to the Music Library, and they are try to share it among their devices.

"soranami"

"Why do I need to pay Apple to listen to my own music collection?: [...]When I wanna play sth on my Mac from my own library (e.g. stuff I've uploaded from my own purchased CDs), I get a pop-up saying I need to have a paid subscription to Apple Music or Match.[...]"

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Accessing Home Music Between Devices:

1. Go Here: Apple Music - Apple
2. As it Reads: "And listen across all your devices, online or off."

You need an Applle Music Plan for this. This is the way Apple has Apple Music set up. Elsewise, you'd have to export it as their own MP3 files, and then play them across iCloud on an app like QuickTime Player.

soranami Said:

"Why do I need to pay Apple to listen to my own music collection?: Hi TheLittles, Thanks for reply but I don't understand it. Step 1 doesn't lead to Step 2 for me.”

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Thank you for the followup reply.

IOW:

Once you get these accessible across all devices (step 1.), you can then download them and then play them offline (step 2.).

Servant of Cats Said:

"Why do I need to pay Apple to listen to my own music collection?: [...]The rest of my original library is visible, but either greyed out (including most CDs and it seems all Amazon purchases) or if not greyed out, gives the message about needing to subscribe to an Apple plan. [...]Any suggestions on how I can get access to all music on the mini? "

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Greyed-Out:

If greyed-out, first try authorizing your computer. If that does not work, then they are no longer available in the iTunes Library. Sometimes, items are removed from the iTunes Library and become no longer accessible. It all has to do with licensing between Apple and the music studio. This is something you would have agreed to upon opening an Apple Account.

1. Go Here: If Songs are Missing from your Music Library After you Turn on Sync Library – Apple Support
2. Scroll to: Song is greyed out

Some Other Links that may Help:

• Find Out how to Re-Download Music you’ve Purchased from the iTunes Store - Apple Support

• Find Out how to Locate and Manage your Music Library in iTunes for Windows on your PC - Apple Support

• Find Out how to Locate and Manage your Music Library in the Apple Music App on your Mac - Apple Support

• Find Out how to Locate and Manage your Music Library in the Apple Music App for Windows on your PC - Apple Support