Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.
Also, I read all the articles suggested (plus many more) and tried every suggestion including buying a couple of music programs to 'find' the music on the computer and phone and save it to later add into iTunes. None of that worked.
To answer your questions more in depth:
1. The music is still on my phone I just can't get to it. When I plug it into iTunes, as I explained above in another reply, it shows the original music and playlists on my phone - on iTunes (under the 'on this iPhone' tab). However, for whatever reason, it isn't showing the music on my actual iPhone device. On my iPhone it only shows the matched music with no playlists. If I turn match off then all the music disappears and it's empty. However, when I check the space available on my phone it shows that there is music on there - a lot of it - none of it is showing up in my music app for some reason.
2. Same thing with my iPad. It shows it's on there in iTunes 'on this iPad' but not on the actual iPad music. Same thing with the space - there's music there when match is off but my music is completely empty - not a single song in the music app.
3. I have music on my computer but it is all iTunes only music. I can't find any of the imported CD music on the computer. The only music file on my computer is iTunes. Again, as I stated before, I have not been syncing my phone since the computer crash since I knew it would ask to sync my phone and delete all existing music on it to replace it with the iTunes library on the computer - which I didn't want to happen since it didn't have all the music in the library.
4. I really did have most of those songs on my iPhone. I don't store anything else on there - no movies, no shows, no audio books, very few photos and apps, etc. I mainly used it for music and as a phone in emergencies.
5. I do have most of the original CDs. It will take hours for me to import them all AGAIN. I buy local and regional artists' music on CDs at shows and plays. I record a lot of my own music and that of my children as well to listen to. Most (if not all) of it isn't available in iTunes. Should I stop supporting local artists all because their music and work isn't on iTunes? Of course not. This is the only way for some of them to make money in the beginning of their careers.
In closing, I tried to download my purchases but Apple is claiming there is an error with most of the tracks and they can't be re-downloaded. Very convenient especially since most of the songs are still in the Apple iTunes store - and where they use to show 'purchased' they are now showing a price of $1.29 - meaning I can buy them again if I choose to do so.
I am done trying and am going to try another music program for my music from now on. There are too many issues and not enough actual answers that help besides the usual "try to download your purchases again" and "read these help topics - they are the answer to your issue". I am not the only person having this issue as I have read dozens of threads on here and other forums of people having the same issue and the only answer they are getting is the same as what I mentioned before. This is a known problem and has been for a while and Apple is not doing anything to resolve the issue.
Thank you for help and for replying to my post. I truly appreciate you taking the time out of your day to try to help me. Thanks again.
