I can not add iTunes songs to slideshow under new Photo

Question

I can not add iTunes songs to slideshow under new Photo

the song title are greyed out. When I selected a song for the slideshow, an error message popped up saying: "The select audio track is not supported. DRM-protected audio cannot b used in slideshows. Choose another audio track.", but I can still play those songs under iTunes.

Question:

1 - why the songs are greyed out?

2 - how do I clear out the DRM-protected?

I did re-download the songs from my "purchased" from iCloud but no prevail. I also followed some tips from the forum to delete some iPhoto preferences but again no prevail.

I recently updated my oS to OS X El Capitan and Photo.

Is this a bug with Photo app?

Thanks!

J.N

Posted on Dec 13, 2015 8:05 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 16, 2017 5:54 AM in response to MapleAndConifer

Nearly 2018, and the problem is still not fixed. Ironically, I spent two hours yesterday on the phone with Apple tech, and it took them that long to figure out what the problem was. Here's the explanation (from Apple!):

"If you subscribe to Apple music, you cannot use the music in your iTunes library for Photos slideshow projects.

Even if the music is originally from your own CDs or purchased from Apple or anywhere, they cannot be used. This is because when you join Apple music, all your music is uploaded to Apple, converted to Apple files, sometimes at higher quality, to facilitate your access to all your music and all the music in the Apple music library. As a consequence, all the music, including the music you own, is now protected from being used elsewhere. This is a problem for sure. The only solution is to stop your subscription to Apple music. When the subscription ends, your old library should return to its normal place in your iTunes library, and it should then be available for you to use in your Photos slideshow projects."

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Answer 2

Nov 20, 2017 4:03 PM in response to LACAllen

Same issue here: all music greyed out, not just DRM - manually added as well; not an Apple Music subscriber either. Its been all downhill with OSX - first iTunes was gutted, then Photos disemboweled all the good features of iPhoto including attaching music (individual tracks instead of play lists) and removal of the randomised slide show (which is available on iPad) - what is going on????

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Answer 3

Jan 17, 2018 12:41 PM in response to charlie from brookline

This is insane! I am making a memorial slide show for a dear friend's husband that has passed and landed here after I couldn't use any of my recently purchased songs. Will be cancelling apple music today. Apple, I would like to be reimbursed for all music purchased from you between 2010 and present time, since I am unable to use any of it for my intended purposes. Ridiculous!

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Answer 4

Aug 19, 2017 3:22 AM in response to Fred Miller IV

I have the same problem with a newly purchased iMac and a monthly subscription to iTunes. If I try to assign an iTune to a slideshow the available tunes are displayed but greyed out. I can however assign an iTune to the slideshow if I purchase each iTune directly from the Apple store. This is a workaround but seems unfair if I am already paying a monthly subscription.

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Answer 5

LACAllen

Level 8

43,632 points

Aug 20, 2017 11:18 PM in response to YorkshirePudding3

This is a workaround but seems unfair if I am already paying a monthly subscription.

Not a workaround at all. This is by design. Apple Music is not the same as iTunes purchases.

You may be paying a fee to stream the music, but that small fee does not grant you the right to use it with a slideshow.

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Answer 6

Dec 13, 2015 9:09 AM in response to MapleAndConifer

Hi,

Apple music can only be used with iTunes on a computer because of DRM. With regard previous purchases, if they were bought prior to 2009, they will still have DRM.

You cannot clear DRM protection from Apple music but with previous purchases, you can burn them to a CD and reimport them to your library.

Jim

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Answer 7

Dec 13, 2015 10:07 AM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Hi Jim,

Thanks a lot for taking your time to respond to my questions.

That's what I understand too, but I have used those songs with my slideshows under iPhoto and they worked just fine. Then yesterday I updated my OS to OS X El Capitan which also automatically update/replace "iPhoto" to "Photo". This is when the whole slideshows thing messes up.

After I posted my questions, I called Apple Support. The Rep, Frank Somma, was great. He remotely logged in my computer, went thru the slideshows setup for both "iPhoto" and 'Photo" apps. What we found is a major bug with "Photo" app which does not allow me to select the songs from my iTunes for the slideshows due to the issue of DRM- protection, but it should have ignored the protection thing because 1) I'm the buyer of the songs. 2) those same songs work just fine with the "iPhoto".

Frank will escalate this issue with Apple Dev team and will get back to me in 3-4 days. Once I got the solution from him I'll update the findings.

Thanks again for your tips!

John N.

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Answer 8

Dec 28, 2015 11:54 PM in response to MapleAndConifer

I'm having the same issues, did you get a response from apple? If so, please send me the answer to *******

Thank you!

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Answer 9

Dec 29, 2015 7:28 AM in response to Curvyanita

Hi Curvyanita,

Apple support got back to me and told me it was a bug but there's nothing they can do about, at least for now. They said they would forward the bug to the Dev team. That's all they can do.

For now we will have to live with it until a new update/fixes is released.

But I wanted to go back to iPhoto, so here what I did:

1- Remove the existing iPhoto app, under the Applications folder, to trash bin.

2 -Reboot my computer.

3 - Go to Apple store to get the latest version of "iPhoto" app (not "Photo" app).

4 - Reinstall the iPhoto.

After the re-installation of iPhoto I can now add songs to the slideshows. However, by default, any photo uploading and photo sharing to iCloud will have to go thru "Photo" app. It *****, but there's nothing I can do about it. I guess We must wait for the fix then.

And by the way, you can not, and the system won't let you, delete the new "Photo" app. It is now part of the OS.

So....in summary:

You can use the iPhoto to create a slideshow using old photos in your previous iPhoto library and add music to it as you usually do. But any new photo uploading and sharing to iCloud can only be done via the "Photo" app.

Please let me know if you can find a new solution to this bug.

Thanks

J.N

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Answer 10

Jul 4, 2016 10:25 PM in response to MapleAndConifer

I am SOOOOOO frustrated with Apple photo its totally gone back wards and the photos are a mess, I had over 35,000 photos and love doing editing and making books and now since they messed with it I have abandoned it adn now I see all my previous slideshows no longer have music even if I bought them before 2009.

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Answer 11

Oct 24, 2016 3:41 PM in response to MapleAndConifer

2016 is about to end and the 'bug' is still here. All music is greyed out, even the ones of my own composition. I just can't add any song at all! The only way is to export the slideshow and use iMovie to add the song I want. Please, Apple, work harder on this issue.

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Answer 12

Nov 30, 2016 12:30 PM in response to BrunoCortese

Hi, I too am having this problem and cannot believe it could take this long to fix. I used to be able to make wonderfull slideshows for my family and now can't. Just purchased a new MacBook too so very disappointed! I wonder how the guys from apple would feel, if the bought a new car from me only to find it had 3 seats and I told them it's no problem we are going to fix it in our own good time! In the mean time only take half the family out or one at a time! Garbage......

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Answer 13

Dec 18, 2016 3:52 PM in response to MapleAndConifer

Hi -

I would like to see this as a feature. I can't use songs I get from Apple Music. I do seem to be able to use old songs from my library pre-Apple Music. It's kind of annoying since I intend to just put this on my iPad anyway which all of the music and photos exist. Seems odd that I'm restricted when doing this on my Mac to make a nice slideshow. Thanks!

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