Music library completely wrecked

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Level 3

966 points

Music library completely wrecked

I'm on the Apple Music free trial, which I'm using on my iPhone with no issues. After the latest iTunes update, which I thought was supposed to resolve the errors that had happened with people's music libraries, I turned on iTunes in the Cloud on my iMac so that I could share my playlists across devices.

My music library is now completely disorganized. For example, my Black Keys albums now have songs by Etta James and Anita O'Day (a jazz singer)(and others--it's totally random). "American Beauty" by the Grateful Dead is now largely Pavorotti, for some reason. It is like this throughout my music collection on my computer, which now basically unusable.

I previously had iTunes Match and had similar issues, although not as pervasive, so I cancelled it and did some work restoring most of my collection. This was a year ago or so. I do not have Match now, but it seems as though the cloud service, for whatever reason, has rewritten my music library randomly.

Does anyone know if there is an easy fix for this? I have Time Machine and a third-party cloud backup, but it will take hours to restore from backup--is there anything faster? Also, how do you turn off this cloud music thing once you've turned it on?

Thanks for any help,

Steve

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Jul 17, 2015 5:32 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

428,039 points

Jul 17, 2015 5:40 AM in response to Steve Sha

On a mobile device: Settings > Music > iCloud Music Library

In iTunes - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7113829?answerId=28515130022#28515130022 "iTunes > Preferences > General > disable the Show Apple Music option. It basically hides all the new features of v.12.2.

It may be restoring the iTunes Library.itl from a backup may restore things. It depends upon if it is just the library file that is messed up or it extends to the media too.

iTunes 12.2 "lost " library issue - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7113917?answerId=28513415022#28513415022 - seems to work for some

First determine if the media files are still present in the iTunes > Media folder. If they are not you will have to restore them from the backup you of course made of your computer before installing new software, or from their original sources. If they are still there then try one of the following methods to rebuild the database which tells iTunes what media you have in your collection and where it is.

ASC user turingtest2 help document: Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6561

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Answer 2

Steve Sha Author

Level 3

966 points

Jul 17, 2015 6:23 AM in response to Limnos

OK, thanks. I will check the media library after work today.

To clarify my other question, the mobile device is fine. It's the iMac on which I think I need to disable the iCloud music service, at least until there's a dependable

fix.

Thanks

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Answer 3

Steve Sha Author

Level 3

966 points

Jul 17, 2015 4:16 PM in response to Steve Sha

OK, it looks I've restored everything and turned off the cloud music. Replacing the library file with an old one seems to have worked. Distressing that I can't really use the iCloud service though.

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Answer 4

Jul 17, 2015 5:48 PM in response to Steve Sha

I can only say that if Apple wanted to make iTunes match not only useless but dangerous, and if they wanted to completely disregard the needs of those with audiobooks, then the latest iTunes succeeded brilliantly. I have spent about 20 hours, after finally turning off iTunes match, reorganizing my music and associated metadata, and reorganizing/transferring my extensive audiobook files to a third party player. I was not able to find an easy fix or restore option, other than a lot of manual work. So I had the same issues as many others, I have no simple answers for others, and all I can do is add my dismay.

I am a big Apple fan, having totally drunk the Koolaid, but this time they were willing to completely disrupt their current customers for the sake of rolling out a new service. One which, by the way, does not interest me in the slightest. One has to wonder how much real-world testing went into the latest iTunes.

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Answer 5

Steve Sha Author

Level 3

966 points

Jul 18, 2015 8:33 AM in response to Okeegator

It turns out I spoke too soon. I did the restore of the old library file and it appeared to work---my library is once again organized correctly, with the right songs being in the right albums according to what you see on screen. This is on my iMac.

But I just realized--I can play a song from an album--the artist name, album cover, and song that actually plays are all correct. However, one of two things happen: (1) in the miniplayer, or the player inset at the top of iTunes, an entirely different artist and song appears. I guess that's not so bad, although it's wierd and annoying; (2) At other times, the player shows the correct song as playing, but the actual music is a different song from an entirely different artist. And it's totally random as far as I can tell. So my library is still unusable on my iMac.

This is extremely upsetting. All I wanted was to be able to share my Apple Music playlists across devices, I didn't want my existing library changed in any way.

Any thoughts?

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Answer 6

Steve Sha Author

Level 3

966 points

Jul 18, 2015 8:51 AM in response to Steve Sha

Here is what I'm talking about. In the instance shown here, the correct music is playing (Something by Bill Evans, a jazz pianist) but the player shows The Dixie Chicks:

If I go to the Dixie Chicks song and try to play it, the Bill Evans song will play. This is just an example, of course, it is like this throughout my iTunes music library.

Is this anything than can be easily fixed? Would having iTunes reorganize my library in a new location do it, or just create more havoc? I have turned off the cloud service, of course.

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Answer 7

Steve Sha Author

Level 3

966 points

Jul 19, 2015 6:48 AM in response to Steve Sha

OK, as wierd as this is, when I opened iTunes today, it seems like my library is mostly fixed. There are still individual problems, but few enough that I can fix them manually, I think. Thanks Limnos and every who took the time to read.

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Answer 8

nhjvdra

Level 1

8 points

Jul 19, 2015 8:36 AM in response to Steve Sha

Steve,

You really can't be seriously expecting Apple to give you something which is honest, straightforward and transparent. Do you also believe in the father christmas? Well then grow up and get out of the crap idea that Apple will actually HELP you. I have been with these evil people for 15 years and have eventually realized that they are only in this game for one thing: The money.

Hence you will be tricked and conned by:

1. Having to give all your personal details at every stage of contact.

2. Being made to believe that all is plug and play.

3. They will make "updates" which have the intention of making all that you own redundant and unusable since the latest software is simply not compatible.

4. A long list of other "methods" which they are "forced" to use to increase market control.

A solution is to log in WITHOUT using ANY details which have a relevance to your true identity. Then do as I go and INFORM others about your suspicions and of course give them answers. We ALL are interested in getting the most out of the boxes they sell us, one exception is the group of people who could be termed "shareholders" who are quite happy that you and millions of other users come to a DEAD END. And then keeping the spirit go on to buy yet more apple crap. Sorry to have to break this news to you. Think about INTENTIONS when you see a problem. Who is going to gain? And who has already gained and expects to gain more by continuing to spread the myth that Apple is something good. Apple is simply a structure with the function "making money" and is surrounded by a lot of people who believe the fairy tale "good guys who are out to make the world better". Many employees far down the ladder will have good intentions, but in the end - it is only sales that count. And the more damage they can leave behind themselves WITHOUT giving the game away, the happier they will be, and sales will continue to increase.

Does that make sense to you?

Well hopefully. I have decided to spend the SAME AMOUNT OF TIME destroying the myth, as I have spent sorting out my own pitiful Apple "problems" out.

If YOU were to do the same, then we could move forwards instead of stumbling over ourselves in an attempt to get the thing working that we spent all our savings on.......

And don't believe ANYTHING I have written, nor anything anyone else has written, without THINKING about it first.

Have I done some good today?

Who knows, but to accept crap is surely NOT the way to make progress. 2015 07 19 17:36:09 Europe

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