You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Spotify

So I'm debating whether to get Spotify rather than keep spending a fortune each month. I own an iPod Classic, can't remember which generation but I've got around 9000 songs on there.


My question is, if I get Spotify and effectively sync my iPod through there, does it transfer all my music that I already own from my laptop onto the iPod plus any music I choose from Spotify? I obviously don't want to erase all my current music, I'm wanting to add to it!

Posted on Feb 9, 2016 2:20 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 9, 2016 3:29 AM

Thank you for your reply but now I'm even more confused! I've been 'googling' and found this .......


How to Sync Spotify Music to Your iPod

By Kim Gilmour from Spotify For Dummies

Spotify is compatible with all the iPod classic models, as well as the iPod shuffle and iPod nano. Any iPod that connects via a USB cable connection, rather than the very first model that required a FireWire connection (isn’t there a museum you can donate that to?), will work.

One exception is the iPod touch: You need to download Spotify’s mobile app to listen to local tracks. The instructions in the following section apply only to the classic, nano, and shuffle iPod versions. (Also, the Spotify mobile app is incompatible with the first generation iPod touch — so if you were an early adopter of the world of touch-screen technology, sadly, these instructions don’t work for you, either.)

To sync music from Spotify to your iPod, follow these steps:

  1. Quit iTunes, if it’s running.You can’t sync if you have both of these applications open because it could cause conflicts.
  2. Open Spotify.
  3. Plug your iPod into your computer by using the USB cable, as usual.Your iPod should appear below Devices in your Spotify window’s left sidebar.The first time you connect your iPod to Spotify, you’ll be asked if you want to erase your iPod and sync it with Spotify. In subsequent syncs, you aren’t asked to do this again as long as you continue using Spotify for your syncs.User uploaded file
  4. Click Erase iPod & Sync with Spotify, if it appears in the Spotify window.After Spotify erases your iPod, two options appear at the top of the page: Sync All Music to This iPod and Manually Choose Playlists to Sync.
  5. Sync all your music to your iPod.The iPod automatically starts syncing all your music because the Sync All Music to This iPod option is selected by default. Additionally, Spotify syncs your playlists, starred tracks and so on — but only tracks you’ve already bought are actually copied over.You can see how much syncing has completed by viewing the progress bar. It counts down how many tracks are left to sync. Below Devices, you may also notice the spinning arrows next to your iPod, signifying that the sync is in progress. When the arrows stop and turn into an Eject button, the sync is complete.
  6. Safely remove your iPod after the sync is complete by clicking the Eject button that appears next to your iPod in the Spotify sidebar.Your iPod itself may also display a message warning you not to disconnect. When the iPod is properly ejected, make sure the warning message on the iPod disappears (it may take a few seconds).
  7. After the warning message is gone, unplug your iPod.

Your refreshed iPod is ready — updated through Spotify and with no intervention from iTunes! The next time you plug in your iPod, it doesn’t take nearly as long for it to detect any changes to your file setup as the original sync did.

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 9, 2016 3:29 AM in response to Skagbagger

Thank you for your reply but now I'm even more confused! I've been 'googling' and found this .......


How to Sync Spotify Music to Your iPod

By Kim Gilmour from Spotify For Dummies

Spotify is compatible with all the iPod classic models, as well as the iPod shuffle and iPod nano. Any iPod that connects via a USB cable connection, rather than the very first model that required a FireWire connection (isn’t there a museum you can donate that to?), will work.

One exception is the iPod touch: You need to download Spotify’s mobile app to listen to local tracks. The instructions in the following section apply only to the classic, nano, and shuffle iPod versions. (Also, the Spotify mobile app is incompatible with the first generation iPod touch — so if you were an early adopter of the world of touch-screen technology, sadly, these instructions don’t work for you, either.)

To sync music from Spotify to your iPod, follow these steps:

  1. Quit iTunes, if it’s running.You can’t sync if you have both of these applications open because it could cause conflicts.
  2. Open Spotify.
  3. Plug your iPod into your computer by using the USB cable, as usual.Your iPod should appear below Devices in your Spotify window’s left sidebar.The first time you connect your iPod to Spotify, you’ll be asked if you want to erase your iPod and sync it with Spotify. In subsequent syncs, you aren’t asked to do this again as long as you continue using Spotify for your syncs.User uploaded file
  4. Click Erase iPod & Sync with Spotify, if it appears in the Spotify window.After Spotify erases your iPod, two options appear at the top of the page: Sync All Music to This iPod and Manually Choose Playlists to Sync.
  5. Sync all your music to your iPod.The iPod automatically starts syncing all your music because the Sync All Music to This iPod option is selected by default. Additionally, Spotify syncs your playlists, starred tracks and so on — but only tracks you’ve already bought are actually copied over.You can see how much syncing has completed by viewing the progress bar. It counts down how many tracks are left to sync. Below Devices, you may also notice the spinning arrows next to your iPod, signifying that the sync is in progress. When the arrows stop and turn into an Eject button, the sync is complete.
  6. Safely remove your iPod after the sync is complete by clicking the Eject button that appears next to your iPod in the Spotify sidebar.Your iPod itself may also display a message warning you not to disconnect. When the iPod is properly ejected, make sure the warning message on the iPod disappears (it may take a few seconds).
  7. After the warning message is gone, unplug your iPod.

Your refreshed iPod is ready — updated through Spotify and with no intervention from iTunes! The next time you plug in your iPod, it doesn’t take nearly as long for it to detect any changes to your file setup as the original sync did.

Feb 9, 2016 4:19 AM in response to Skagbagger

That's interesting. However, after reading additional links from my own search, it appears to only work with songs you already own or songs your purchase through Spotify. Like with the Apple Music streaming service, downloaded songs that are subscribed (not purchased) cannot be loaded on an iPod using the Spotify app on a Mac. Like iTunes, it can only load songs you own (such as songs imported from CD and songs purchased from iTunes Store). And you will also not be able to load iTunes media types that use DRM, such as audiobooks, songs purchased from iTunes Store before early 2009 (and not upgraded), music videos, TV shows, and movies, if that's important for you.


So, it seems like Spotify will not reduce your monthly cost. Its "premium" (paid) streaming service costs $9.99 per month, which is the price for Apple Music, and neither one works with iPods (except for iPod touch). The music manager app on Mac seems to be similar to iTunes, without the other media types available in iTunes, plus you'll need to erase your iPod and redo all of your supporting data, such as playlists, ratings, play count, etc. Switching will be equivalent to starting over with a new iTunes library on your Mac.

Spotify

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.