Will ITunes Match work with the new HomePod?

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.

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.

I did not see the end of this thread... so, looking for the answer if one can use iTunes match without the full-blown apple Music Subscription, Iwent through chat, technical support and finally to Sales. Sierra in Sales told me apple match without the Apple music subscription is supported. She also said one can airplay to it.

Here is the transcript from James: Thank you so much for your patience. I have checked and glad to let you know that you can ask Siri to play songs on your iTunes Match. Also, you can continue to buy albums from iTunes and expand your collection of purchased songs associated with your iTunes Store account, and ask Siri to play those on HomePod.

You're welcome.

So assuming the HomePod ties in to the existing iCloud Music Library service, which is highly expected, the annual iTunes Match subscription will give you what you want.

Just chatted with Apple Support and James confirmed Siri will play iTunes match music on HomePod without an Apple Music subscription

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.

The answer.. is YES!

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/02/01/homepod-supported-audio-sources/

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.

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.

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.

James said he had to look it up he was interested in the question too. He came back and said that it would work. I hope he is right because I ordered mine right away

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.