Will ITunes Match work with the new HomePod?

Not the answer you likely want, but this seems definitive to me.

HomePod arrives February 9, available to order this Friday - Apple

So you could stream your CD library, but not using the iTunes Match "version" of an iCloud Music Library.

I wouldn't say definitive. It doesn't say whether the HomePod will work with iTunes Match or not. The Apple Sales Specialist online don't know and say wait until Friday. There are a lot of us who own CD's ( yes we're old ) and have them ripped to our iTunes library. A $25 a year iTunes Match subscription fee is a lot more palatable than an Apple Music subscription. We'll have to wait and see.

Apple has not released any information other than this, HomePod - Apple , so if this does not contain the information you are looking for, no one would really know for certain, and speculation on what Apple may or may not do is prohibited by the Terms of Service for the forum. You will have to watch for an announcement from Apple.

Susan Oates wrote:

Since HomePod is scheduled for availability early in 2018, it seems to me that the specs should pretty much be in place by now.

Apple tends to wait until the actual release date for that.

Be aware that iTunes Match is a very different product from Apple Music.

The main value of iTunes Match is to provide you an iCloud Music Library, same as Apple Music, which contains Appl'e versions of all the music in your local iTunes music library on your computer. So you can stream your home music ;library to your device(s).

Apple Music provides you access to the vast Apple Music library for streaming. iTunes Match does not. iTunes Match is not simply a cheaper version of Apple Music.

If you have no historical CD based music in your local iTunes library, iTunes Match may be of little value.

I called Apple Pre-Sales department to ask if the HomePod will play songs from the $25-per-year Apple iTunes Match Service. (The Apple TV with Siri Remote can, as can iPhones & iPads, of course.) The rep told me she has no idea, and that she cannot find out for me.

The Apple Website only lists Siri being able to play music from the Apple Music Subscription Service. There is no mention that iTunes Match will work. There is also no mention that Match won't work. There are people like myself that won't buy the $350 HomePod unless its Siri can play songs from their personal Match Library. I just wish I could get a definitive answer either way from Apple before the Friday pre-order date. I even tried the product Chat service Apple offers on their site. That rep, too, could not get an answer.

You're saying wait until Friday, but we might still not get an answer on Friday, since Friday is just the start of orders. The actual shipping date is February 9th, as everyone knows.

For people with iTunes Match who want to early-order this HomePod, and who would not buy it unless it supports iTunes Match, there has to be a way to find out in advance. I called pre-sales, I did the Online Apple chat, and I called Apple tech support. No one I have contacted so far can give me an answer.

Correct, we may not know until reviewers start to report on the HomePod. I said Friday, because that was what the Apple Chat sales support person said, but they clearly don't know for sure. They did ask me my thoughts so maybe they are doing some market research :-).

You can always purchase it, check whether it works and return it if it doesn't support iTunes Match. Apple gives you 14 days to return.

Had the same question and asked a chat specialist who told me:

"For music saved in your iTunes account though you'll have to stream it via AirPlay. That being said once the device is paired you can say, 'Hey Siri play <insert song>', you just have to make sure the device is connected."

So whether you have iTunes Match or not, you have to use a device (iPod, iPhone, etc.) choose the HomePod as the "speaker" via the AirPlay icon in the Music app, iTunes, etc., then it'll play from that device to the HomePod. After it is selected as the speaker, you can ask HomePod verbally to play a song from your library.

Not perfect, but workable.

Thanks for posting that information, Susan.

This would be unacceptable for a $350 smart speaker, especially considering that Amazon's Echo and Google's Home speakers can play your song collection via voice commands without the need for any computer or phone or tablet being on. Google has a free music cloud service where you can upload up to 50,000 songs, and then ask the Google Home speakers to play those songs by title, etc. Amazon's music cloud service will allow you to upload your songs for $25 per year.

Apple's iTunes Match is $25 per year, as everyone knows. And if Apple truly doesn't allow one to ask the HomePod's Siri to play their songs in their iTunesMatch subscription without having their computer turned on, I will be very disappointed and think it unfair.

Thank you, Cblast. I hope James gave you accurate information. I tried chatting with an Apple rep this morning and was again told they do not know yet for sure. I am going to be optimistic and say that the information James gave you is correct. Since Google & Amazon allow it with their services & speakers, I am guessing Apple has to allow people who pay them the $25 per year to do it.

Cblast, I ordered mine right away, as well. If it turns out iTunes Match is not supported, I will simply return the HomePod for a refund. But I am very optimistic now that the HomePod's Siri will play my Match music collection.

cblast, did James say you do not need an external device to play music via iTunes match? I was hoping this was the case but I received conflicting info (posted earlier) that a device is required to stream library content (iTunes Match or no) to the HomePod.

Really hoping the answer I got is wrong!

He did not say specifically you do not need an external source. He never mentioned external source or airplay. I asked first if you can use iTunes match on Homepod without an Apple Music Subscription. He said yes, you can use iTunes match, apple podcasts, and itunes music on Homepod without subscription. Then I asked him specifically if you can use Siri on HomePod to play music from iTunes match. He checked and said yes. I did not ask him specifically about needing airplay or external source.