Q: Questions about canceling iTunes Match (Apple Music user)
I'm sorry if this has been explained before - but I couldn't find exact answers to all my questions and even though I did read Apple's documentation about the differences between Apple Music/iCloud Music Library and iTunes Match, I am still not 100% sure how (or if) the cancellation of my iTM subscription as a current AM user would affect me. I would really appreciate it if someone could clarify this for me
Background: I have been an iTM subscriber since the beginning and over time I have deleted all my old, low quality MP3s and re-downloaded DRM free AAC versions of those tracks. My match-rate was very high, so I managed to "upgrade" almost all of my crappy music files. Apart from those upgraded tracks, my library consists of mainly iTMS purchases and high quality CD rips that are "matched" but didn't need upgrading (additionally there's a handful of - mostly high quality - CD rips that are "uploaded").
Now here are my questions: What exactly (if anything at all) is going to happen if I cancel my iTM sub? Is there a noticeable transition from "iTunes Match Library" to "iCloud Music Library", meaning: is there a chance things might get screwed up? 99% of my local tracks have custom artwork, lyrics and extensive metadata that has been added manually over the course of a decade... that's the main reason I am so cautious regarding my iTunes library.
Also, are both services actually pulling from different "catalogues"? I once read something about AM using the "Apple Music Catalogue" and iTM using the "iTunes Music Store Catalogue"... is there anything to that and if so, how does it affect me? Is there any advantage in keeping my iTM sub in addition to AM?
I would love to know how other long time iTM subscribers and AM users are handling this and any insight regarding the technicalities of canceling iTM would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Posted on Nov 8, 2015 4:25 AM
It's past the point where I can edit my post above now, but having added my work email as another family member under Apple Music, it seems I was incorrect in saying that unmatched/uploaded tracks would not be available on other devices (my work iPad). It seems they are, so therefore I can make these assumptions as to the main differences between using iTunes Match (and Apple Music) or just using Apple Music.
1. Less tracks will be matched using only Apple Music (I think I read there's around 30 million for Apple Music and around 43 million on the iTunes store)
2. Any track that is matched in iTunes on the 'main' computer will be available on another computer but it will be the DRM version
3. Uploaded/unmatched tracks on the main computer will be available on another computer but should not have DRM
4. If you 'remove download' a matched track (ripped from a CD or other source) on your main computer and re-download it, it will then have DRM.
Assuming this is all pretty much correct, there's not really a huge benefit to having iTunes match if you are going to subscribe to Apple Music.
Posted on Nov 8, 2015 9:46 AM