iTunes Match incomplete/cut off songs

For your two new iPhones:

- Are you certain that on both you did not restore potentially corrupt backup files?

- Are you saying both were clean builds from factory reset states?

If so, no IOS devices would function perfectly with iTunes Match which is clearly not the case ... since the software is standard we would simply be left with faulty hardware as a solution ... possible but extremely unlikely. If it were the case you would be able to take the devices in question to your nearest Genius bar and have Apple replace them.

For whatever it's worth, I have only had this problem with *purchased* music. I could probably understand if it were uploaded music, that maybe something went wrong with the upload, but with purchased music? Also, following the suggested work-around of deleting songs from my library->hiding them from iCloud->re-adding to library-> re-matching does fix the problem for those songs, but what I find interesting is that the songs change from "Purchased" to "Matched' in my library, and magically then they play fine on my phone.

My humble opinion is that this is something on Apple's end that they *can* fix and are choosing not to.

I'm in the same boat as most others. I've deleted the library files on my phone, turned music match on and off, blah, blah, blah. The only thing that fixes it is re-uploading to the cloud, getting it to change from "Purchased" to "Matched", and then it plays fine.

I wonder if we all started sharing songs that we're having issues with...maybe there's a pattern? Maybe there are specific songs that have this issue, and everyone is having the same problem with the same song?

Here are a few songs I purchased from iTunes that I had/have problems with:

• Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars
• Counting Crows - A Long December
• The Sundays - Wild Horses
• Paul Oakenfold - Not Over (Featuring Ryan Tedder)
• Paul Oakenfold - Amsterdam

There are dozens more, those are just a few off the top of my head.

Hi,

Thanks again for the suggestion but the deleting media library files fix didn't work. I downloaded the same songs that previously skipped / got cut off, and the same issue remains.

This really is a pig of an issue. So frustrating.

How long does something have to be a problem before Apple fixes it? How is there new streaming service going to work right if they can not even get iTunes Match to work right?

Very Frustrated!

iTunes Match already works very well for many. Though most with large libraries will have invested considerable time to ensure the best results. Key points to resolve these issues have already been provided in this thread.

With the latest software installed and good network connection such issues can be easily resolved.

Can you not see that people have already invested considerable time to ensure 'the best results' and the issues still happen? It's not acceptable to paying customers that iTunes Match 'works very well for many'. It needs to work for ALL, especially as it's a paid extra.

To recap, I have:

- Carried out tried the fixes in this thread (including yours)

- Change iPhones

- Attempted the downloads from several different connections (therefore not a network issue, that was the first fob-off from Apple, we have come full circle)

- Deleted and redownloaded my library

- Reset etc. many times

- Attempted all the above after getting a new PC

After all this, to be told that the issue is easily resolved is quite frustrating. The support site has several threads with a lot people having this issue, many are fanboys. Even they have come to accept that this is an Apple problem that has not been resolved by them.

Mracole, look back through the thread. The majority of people still have issues. The issue is with iTunes Match, not my devices. I have the exact same problems on 4 different device. The exact same screw up, no matter how many times the are deleted from Match and re-uploaded. The only device that works right is the one with the original file. This is an Apple problem. They need to address and fix the problem with Match.

Agreed, on multiple phones for me.

Mracole. Your suggestion about iExplorer and deleteing the 3 files worked, sort of. I have a few more sone that will pay all the way through now, but I still have many that will still now play the song.

Sorry, correction to my spelling above. I still have many songs that will not play all the way through.

Great to have some progress but frustrating that you still have Songs that will not successfully play.

The forcing of iTunes on the iDevice to rebuild the library has clearly only been a partial fix.

Potential remain causes include:

1. Corruption of file on upload / match into the cloud. To resolve, identify a Song known to have issues, make secure backup, delete from library and cloud, import from original source and allow iTunes Match to complete.

2. Intermittant network communication issues frustrating play back. Connect iDevice to computer using wired link, download the Song and check playback.

3. Corrupt Song metadata. Explore Song 'Get Info' results in particular information governing playback start / end time, if corruption is found remedy as per (1).

I hope this pointers allow you to quicky resolve the remaining anomalies.

Note: In Song view also worth exploring iCloud Download and Status fields to determine any patterns - for example, issues only occuring with 'uploads'.

1. Corruption of file on upload / match into the cloud. To resolve, identify a Song known to have issues, make secure backup, delete from library and cloud, import from original source and allow iTunes Match to complete.

I have done this many times. No result.

2. Intermittant network communication issues frustrating play back. Connect iDevice to computer using wired link, download the Song and check playback.

This is not the cause. As per my earlier reply, I have downloaded the affected songs from the cloud using several (strong) networks. Same results.

3. Corrupt Song metadata. Explore Song 'Get Info' results in particular information governing playback start / end time, if corruption is found remedy as per (1).

There is no unusual song data on the affected files' get info data.

At the moment, the most effective fix (without going back to buying vinyl) is to listen to the complete songs on iTunes, learn the lyrics, then when listening to the song on the iPhone, *sing* the final 30 seconds of each song when it cuts out.

Great to see sense of humour fully intact, essential for iTunes Match. On a serious note, how frustrating. The only gap notable from your response is using a wired connection to the device, this is worthwhile.

Having tried to re-create the symptoms on my library all continues to work perfectly. The solution options given are those used when this behaviour first surfaced, together with efforts from Apple all was quickly resolved.

There have been far too many reports in the recent period to ignore this issue. Would suggest you contact Apple directly, they can not reasonably charge you for a service which on your configuration is clearly not working. You can give them this thread as a clear indication that you have taken all resonable steps to resolve.

As a pen-ultimate step, would try working with the techniques in this article: http://www.macworld.com/article/1163607/toggle_between_itunes_match_and_local_sy ncing.html

The ultimate step is clearly a restore to factory condition, to not use any prior backups, ensure your iTunes is fully up to date and that your device has the latest IOS, start with wired Sync, once working enable iTunes Match - if this does not work for you, you should definitely work direct with Apple to resolve and post back the solution.

Sincerely best of luck.

Solution demands the re-build of the library files on iTunes, followed by removing all Music from the iDevice.

To rebuild the library, follow these steps:

0. Create secure backup of all Song files

1. Sign-out of iTunes Store and exit from iTunes

2. Navigate to iTunes music library.

a. Move iTunes Music Library.xml to the desktop

b. Delete iTunes Library.itl

3. Launch iTunes, choose File, Library, Import Playlist & select iTunes Music Library.xml from Desktop

To remove music from iDevice, follow these steps:

1. Disable iTunes Match;

2. Under Settings, General, Usage, Music, swipe All Music & select delete.

Now restart computer from cold, launch iTunes, sign-in to iTunes Store and restart iTunes Match - allow process to complete before re-enabling iTunes Match on the device.

(Related Apple reference: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451)

Can you tell me if this same fix can be done with a mac because I'm having the same issue with my phone however you only included the fix for PC. Please let me know because this issue seriously is a drag!

Thank you in advance!