Apple Music Apple Music - Owned vs Subscribed tracks

[interbear]

Anyone have any tips on easily being able to see which music tracks or albums in an Apple Music library are owned (ie ripped or purchased on iTunes) vs subscribed (added to library via Apple Music subscription). I know that one of the benefits (or downsides for some) of Apple Music is that it integrates owned and subscription music into one library, but surely there is a way to easily identify either? I’d like to review exactly what digital music I own as I ponder whether or not to continue subscribing to Apple Music or revert to only buying my own music via iTunes or CDs.

I’m also considering separating them by buying music via iTunes and using Spotify for streaming. Not sure if that’s a sensible approach but my car has in built Spotify and my speaker at home has Spotify Connect so it may be suitable.

 

[Marco Klobas]

Try the following – it's a little bit convoluted:

Create 4 smart playlists and check if the Apple Music (Streamed+Downloaded) playlist and Owned Music playlist contain the music provided by Apple Music's catalogue (either streamed or downloaded) and the music you purchased/ripped respectively.

Playlist Apple Music (Streamed) (Match all of the following rules):
Cloud Status -> is -> Apple Music
Kind -> contains -> Apple Music AAC audio file

Playlist Apple Music (Downloaded) (Match all of the following rules):
Cloud Status -> is -> Apple Music
Kind -> contains -> HLS media

Playlist Apple Music (Streamed+Downloaded) (Match any of the following rules):
Playlist -> is -> Apple Music (Streamed)
Playlist -> is -> Apple Music (Downloaded)

Playlist Owned Music (Match the following rule):
Playlist -> is not -> Apple Music (Streamed+Downloaded)

 

[interbear]

Try the following – it's a little bit convoluted:

Create 4 smart playlists and check if the Apple Music (Streamed+Downloaded) playlist and Owned Music playlist contain the music provided by Apple Music's catalogue (either streamed or downloaded) and the music you purchased/ripped respectively.

Playlist Apple Music (Streamed) (Match all of the following rules):
Cloud Status -> is -> Apple Music
Kind -> contains -> Apple Music AAC audio file

Playlist Apple Music (Downloaded) (Match all of the following rules):
Cloud Status -> is -> Apple Music
Kind -> contains -> HLS media

Playlist Apple Music (Streamed+Downloaded) (Match any of the following rules):
Playlist -> is -> Apple Music (Streamed)
Playlist -> is -> Apple Music (Downloaded)

Playlist Owned Music (Match the following rule):
Playlist -> is not -> Apple Music (Streamed+Downloaded)

Wow. Thanks. It really should be easier than that

I did find that I could go into the iTunes Store app and see exactly what music I’d purchased. Obviously not ripped CDs though.

I’m also considering whether or not to start relistening to and rebuilding my CD collection for music ownership. Now that I’ve also realised that iTunes purchases are still 256 kb AAC not Apple Lossless. I don’t have anything to play the CDs on currently though so it’s either buy a CD player or go all in with digital purchasing. A dilemma I’ve not resolved for years!

 

[Marco Klobas]

I did find that I could go into the iTunes Store app and see exactly what music I’d purchased. Obviously not ripped CDs though.

To see only purchased tracks a simple playlist with the rule Purchased -> is true should work. As you said, ripped CDs would not appear.

I got rid of my CD player years ago, too. Currently my audio system is digital only: Apple Music for streaming/on-the-go-listening and locally stored tracks managed via Music app alongside Roon.

I've nothing against physical media (vinyl, CD/SACD/DVD, tape etc.). Digital music is very convenient/practical. Maybe less emotional to handle because it's immaterial. That's it.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

On a Mac your purchased/downloaded music is in a seperate folder (Music > Media > Music).

 

[tyranny2k]

Id like to glom onto this convo and ask another related question. I still have my CD library stored in crates. Id like to digitize and add to Music to play when out of service areas. Is this feasible or:

- will Apple Music just replace my ripped music with streamed copies when possible.
- will I always have access to the original files, or will they become "Apple Musicified" and I cant extricate them to use with another player for example.
- Should I rip the files to a folder THEN import to be sure I have the files separate from AM?

Its quite a few CDs and Ill just slowly do it as time allows, I just find it annoying that I cant play music if I'm camping out of cell range etc.

 

[WebHead]

- will Apple Music just replace my ripped music with streamed copies when possible.

Only on other devices. The original files will remain on the PC you ripped them on until you delete them.

- will I always have access to the original files, or will they become "Apple Musicified" and I cant extricate them to use with another player for example.

Again, on the original PC they will be there until you delete them. But even the AM versions should be DRM-free. So if the AM versions are superior quality (eg lossless/hi-res) you may want to delete the originals and download the matched versions.

Sorry, just checked and lossless and hi-res versions have DRM applied. But you can download iTunes Plus (256kbps) DRM-free.

- Should I rip the files to a folder THEN import to be sure I have the files separate from AM?

Only if you want a backup copy. You won't lose the original files you add to AM unless you delete them.