Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Christoffee

Contributor
Original poster
Jul 26, 2012
554
1,211
UK
My wife and I have the following the account setup:
husbandandwife@mail.com is the account we use for the App Store and iTunes Store on our phones, iPad and Mac. So all purchases of music and apps are made through this account. This is also the iCloud account on the Mac and iPad, for Safari and Keychain on these shared devices. This is also the Home Sharing account.

husband@mail.com and wife@mail.com are our personal iCloud accounts on our phones.

So far this system works great.

Now, for Apple Music, is it possible to buy a subscription on husbandandwife@mail.com to be used on all devices? In Settings -> Music on iOS the only login is for Home Sharing, so will a subscription attach to this account?

It seems clear (but correct me if I am wrong) that to use Apple Music on the Mac we will definitely need the subscription on husbandandwife@mail.com as this is the account that iTunes is logged into.

Finally, there is only credit card details on husbandandwife@mail.com. And this is the account marked as the App & iTunes Stores. So surely the purchase will go through here?

Clarity appreciated!
 

shftoptk

macrumors member
Feb 25, 2016
58
32
USA
It is a bit tricky when you want to share purchases but have different accounts, which is why Apple made family sharing(https://www.apple.com/icloud/family-sharing/) which is the best way to share Apple Music while also having your own personal playlists, music, etc.

So after you add her to your Family Sharing, you go into the Music app and sign up for the Apple Music Family plan ($14.99 I think). After that, she should be able to open Music on her device(s) and it will be ready for her to use too. The bill will go to the card you have on file.

This is how I do it: I share Apple Music with 3 different people. Each have their own iCloud but two of them share the same AppleID. That means I have to add them to my Family Sharing plan, they will join, and then I will set up the Apple Music Family Plan. Then, they will be able to have their own Apple Music subscription while sharing the $14 family cost. Billy likes Rock and Roll, so his Apple Music hub is all about Rock and Roll. Lilly likes jazz, so her hub is all about jazz. Then Johnny, the third person, likes rap- so his hub is all about rap. All 3 different Apple Music accounts shared on the same AM Family subscription through Family Sharing.

Because you share the same AppleID for iTunes purchases, all of those songs will be available for you and her. But any apple music that you download will be only on your music playlist, and her apple music on her playlist.
I am not sure how Home Sharing works, but I don't think it has to do with Apple Music, only iTunes music.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Christoffee

Christoffee

Contributor
Original poster
Jul 26, 2012
554
1,211
UK
@shftoptk i appreciate the long reply.

Let's put aside personal playlists and the like. I assume Apple have no problem with Apple Music being used on various devices: a person can have an iPhone, an iPad, and a Mac. So presumably two iPhones is no problem.

The question remains, if I purchase Apple Music on my iPhone is the purchase attached to my iTunes account, or iCloud account?
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.