Q: Update Play count to iCloud library from Android

Seriously. This is a big problem as I have smart playlists that are contingent on play count and/or date last played. If these aren't synched, it's a huge pain. Come on Apple!

I have had them sync, but only sporadically, and I have no idea what triggered the sync. It is the same problem synching these stats with my ipod touch.

This is now my number one issue with Apple Music for Android.

When I first tried out Apple Music on Android, I was in love with it, because it seemed like play counts and last played were being updated when I played tracks from Apple Music on my Android phone.  But, it seems to do it VERY inconsistently, going in some cases entire weeks without updating iCloud metadata for played tracks. I thought perhaps it had something to do with joining a family plan, but this weekend, 5 of the ~60 songs I played updated their play count/date.  no rhyme or reason as to which ones.

This is extremely important to me--even more important than the lack of star ratings and the annoying multi-disc track order problem.  At least those two items I have a workaround for.  Having only a handful of my play counts/dates update is every once in awhile really hinders the functionality of a ton of lists I rely on.  Plus, I just like clean data.  Playing new songs in my library but then observing NO play count and NO play date is just infuriating.

In general, I find the service and app a 4-star experience.  My two previous issues, though, make it a 3-star app from my perspective. THIS issue knocks it all the way down to 1 or 2 stars for me. I'll still use it, because it's the best way to share my extensive and well-groomed library to the device I use most (my Moto X Pure Edition), but this particular issue makes the whole thing feel fundamentally broken.  Until this is fixed, my previous enthusiasm when discussing Apple Music with others will be tempered with a very major caveat.

I have now found a "kind-of" work around for a specific situation.

In order to ensure the play count and date last played are updated (eventually, so far within 6 hours at least) I do the following.

First, in iTunes I sort the playlist by date last played (you could use any criterion for the sort, this just helps keep track, so whatever criteria works for you).

Now the playlist appears in that order on my Android.

When I start listening to that playlist, I don't use "shuffle" as this would make it more difficult to make sure the metadata is being updated. I listen in order.

This particular playlist contains songs last listened to at least 3 months ago.

Once I begin listening to the song, I go back to "My Music" tab and wait for it to load. Then I go back to the playlist tab, wait for them to load, and open the playlist.

If the metadata is updated, the current song will no longer appear in the list (it has been registered as being listened to, and the playlist does live updates).

If the song is still there I do those steps again.

If the song is still there after that, I just move keep listening. Later I will go back to that song and do that process. Eventually the metadata registers and the song is removed from the playlist.

Normally this metadata is not synched right away with my iTunes (even if I log out and back in or update iCloud), but they do eventually register. I guess this pin-points the problem being with the mobile version of Apple Music - for whatever reason it will not keep track of what is played unless you continually re-load the library and playlists.

The fact that I have to perform such a ridiculous amount of work to make sure an "automatic" feature is doing its job has de facto made this a manual feature. You could just as easily work around by keeping track of the last song you listened to, open iTunes and play all those songs to update the play count (just skip to the end of the song and it will still count as played). In fact, that is probably easier.

RIDICULOUS

You do this with EVERY song that you play, just to get its play count/date to register with the iCloud library?  Ugh, no.