Jonathan Myers
Level 1 (11 points)
Apple Music

Q: Apple Music is stealing my music even if it doesn't mean to.

I signed up for the Apple Music service when it launched last year.  I also have iTunes Match.  Over the last few months I have noticed a process by which tracks from albums that I either physically downloaded from CDs or bought from other digital services such as Amazon, have become labeled as Apple Music AAC Music tracks and as protected items with DRM-restrictions that prevent me from among other things from making MP3 versions.  I have over 12,000 tracks so it is difficult to document exactly how many this is happening to (though I try to track it with a Smart Playlist for Apple Music AAC) but what seems to be happening is that when Apple Music cannot find the album that I downloaded or bought from another source for a particular item,  it is identifying it as a track from an album that is present in the iTunes or Apple Music store. Therefore because it thinks it is something that has been downloaded from Apple Music, it applies the DRM restrictions.

 

I have asked Apple Support for help; my account has been put into 'troubleshooting mode' and escalated to an 'Engineering Team': result - nothing.  I even emailed Tim Cook!  No answer.

 

My questions are:  has anyone else noticed the same thing happening to their iTunes Library?  Do they have an alternative explanation and/or solution?  Is anyone aware of any kind of class-action suit about the problems with Apple Music service?

Posted on Mar 24, 2016 8:12 AM

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Jonathan Myers

Q: Apple Music is stealing my music even if it doesn't mean to.

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  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt May 6, 2016 3:13 PM in response to Jonathan Myers
    Level 8 (48,346 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 6, 2016 3:13 PM in response to Jonathan Myers

    Jonathan Myers wrote:

     

     

    ...  what seems to be happening is that when Apple Music cannot find the album that I downloaded or bought from another source for a particular item,  it is identifying it as a track from an album that is present in the iTunes or Apple Music store. Therefore because it thinks it is something that has been downloaded from Apple Music, it applies the DRM restrictions.

     

    I believe that is an accurate description. As far as I can determine, that is the way Apple intends it to work.


  • by sherryfromwashington,

    sherryfromwashington sherryfromwashington Sep 3, 2016 4:03 PM in response to Jonathan Myers
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Music
    Sep 3, 2016 4:03 PM in response to Jonathan Myers

    I have the same problem. I have approximately 3500 songs on my iTunes library, 2/3 of which were downloaded from my own CD collection.

    When I locked myself out of my iPhone and had to reset it, all of my music suddenly became "Apple's music" and I cannot get my music to download on my iPhone. I can only hear my music if I am connected to wifi and use Apple music.

    This is the worst rip off of customers that I have ever seen. And the new leadership at Apple should  be sued. If you hear of a lawsuit please let me know because I want to join as party.