SirOrn

Q: Upgrading DRM protected music with iTunes Match

I have older DRM protected .m3p files in my library. I would like to remove protection so I can play them on my Sonos network. I have subscribed to iTunes match and followed instructions in order to re-format them to iTunes Plus as below:

 

Can I upgrade my previously purchased music to iTunes Plus?

Yes. If you subscribe to iTunes Match, you can download your previously purchased music again in the iTunes Plus format. To do so:

  1. You need to delete the original DRM song from your library first. Doing this enables you to download the song again in the iTunes Plus format from iTunes in the Cloud.
  2. Click the Purchased tab in the iTunes Store.
  3. Click Music.
  4. Locate the artist of the song you want to upgrade.
  5. Click the iCloud Download icon next to the song you want to upgrade.

The 'new' downloaded versions are still .mp4 protected, ie no change and cannot be played from my NAS. Any ideas welcome.

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8)

Posted on Jan 16, 2014 9:42 AM

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Q: Upgrading DRM protected music with iTunes Match

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  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jan 16, 2014 9:45 AM in response to SirOrn
    Level 9 (54,543 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 16, 2014 9:45 AM in response to SirOrn

    You deleted the track first?

  • by Chris CA,Helpful

    Chris CA Chris CA Jan 16, 2014 10:24 AM in response to SirOrn
    Level 9 (79,653 points)
    iTunes
    Jan 16, 2014 10:24 AM in response to SirOrn

    SirOrn wrote:

     

    I have older DRM protected .m3p files

    You mean AAC/.M4P.

    MP3 cannot use DRM.

     

    When I subscribed to iTunes Match when it first came out, I have noticed that some files would not get updated.

    I haven't used it since then so I don't know what the deal is. They may have been songs that are no longer avaialble in iTunes and iTunes Match uploaded them then downloaded those versions (since the song is no longer available).

  • by SirOrn,

    SirOrn SirOrn Jan 16, 2014 10:34 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 16, 2014 10:34 AM in response to Limnos

    Yes Limnos. Deleted track first. 

  • by SirOrn,

    SirOrn SirOrn Jan 16, 2014 10:41 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 16, 2014 10:41 AM in response to Chris CA

    Sorry AAC.

     

    From the store, the files are downloaded to my library (download icon top right). They do not have an iCloud download icon next to them. They remain protected. Do I need more patience? (I do have iTunes Match running in the background).

  • by SirOrn,

    SirOrn SirOrn Jan 16, 2014 11:22 AM in response to SirOrn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 16, 2014 11:22 AM in response to SirOrn

    Making progress.....

     

    I deleted one track from an album and followed steps 2 through 5 as above. Back in my library there appeared to be no change, i.e. still protected and no new iCloud icon. On trying later once again by deleting the song and moving it to  the trash, a new version replaced it with a download icon. This time I have a new 'matched AAC file. Also, all the songs on the album are now deleteable and replaceable.

     

    Thanks for your interest and help.

  • by Limnos,Solvedanswer

    Limnos Limnos Jan 16, 2014 11:42 AM in response to SirOrn
    Level 9 (54,543 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 16, 2014 11:42 AM in response to SirOrn

    It sounds to me like you were not fully deleting it from the library file and all as instructred but instead just deleting a playlist entry.

  • by SirOrn,

    SirOrn SirOrn Jan 23, 2014 3:06 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 3:06 AM in response to Limnos

    Yes, I was deleting playlist enties. I located my iTunes file and deleted from there. Thank you.

     

    There are still some tracks which will not convent presumably because artist/label wishes to maintain protection, notably: Eurythmics Ultimate Collection. Would you recommend buying a converter app?

  • by Michael Allbritton,

    Michael Allbritton Michael Allbritton Jan 23, 2014 4:40 AM in response to SirOrn
    Level 6 (16,832 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jan 23, 2014 4:40 AM in response to SirOrn

    The first thing you need to do is enable the iCloud Status column in the iTunes browser. Switch to the Song view and pull down View menu > View Options. Select "iCloud Status" then close the small window. This will show you what the status of the tracks is. For the protected tracks I suspect the status will be "purchased" which means the tracks are not eligible for upgrading to iTunes Plus for whatever reason. The only way to "upgrade" the tracks if they are "purchased" is to burn them to Audio CD, import them into to iTunes and let iTM do its scan.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jan 23, 2014 5:49 AM in response to SirOrn
    Level 9 (54,543 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 23, 2014 5:49 AM in response to SirOrn

    A converter app will not work with DRM protected files.  Try Michael Allbritton's suggestions.