Catalina fresh install copy itunes folder to music app MESS...any solutions?

[tommy1292]

Well to start:

The hardware: Macbook Pro Touch Bar 2016

I was originally running High Sierra and decided to do a fresh install of Catalina. I copied all my files/folders manually including the iTunes folder. Upgraded macOS with no issues. I read that I need to copy the iTunes folder into the music folder and it will detect my library. That was also a success, however there is a column with a cloud and some songs had the arrow downward inside the little cloud and some with a dotted out line of the cloud. What is that all about? I also noticed that some album artwork is not appearing after years of maintenance. I deleted the songs off the library (now all my music is deleted off my phone) and decided to try holding the "alt" key and select the iTunes file that I copied over. Still having the same issue with album artwork. I did not plug my phone in and sync with this new music app. I know there are many posts on this topic and I have done some research on the topic but have not found any success. Has someone found a solution for this? My goal is to keep Catalina and use the music app if possible. I don't really want to downgrade to Mojave. It seems like that what everyone is doing. Thanks for the help!

 

[Rizvi1]

When I first got my new 16" MBP, the data I imported was from a Mojave back up which was a mess for my Music app, TV app, and Podcasts app. I can't do the downgrade to Mojave on that because the computer is too new. But luckily I have another 13" 2015 MBP which coincidentally was on Mojave. So I put all my music, podcasts, and tv files on that and upgraded that to Catalina and then imported everything to my new computer and it worked well.

I just repeated the process with a cleaner install because I didn't want to bring all the excess baggage from my other computer, but this time I've lost my Home Videos folder artwork, but that's fine, I'll live.

 

[tommy1292]

When I first got my new 16" MBP, the data I imported was from a Mojave back up which was a mess for my Music app, TV app, and Podcasts app. I can't do the downgrade to Mojave on that because the computer is too new. But luckily I have another 13" 2015 MBP which coincidentally was on Mojave. So I put all my music, podcasts, and tv files on that and upgraded that to Catalina and then imported everything to my new computer and it worked well.

I just repeated the process with a cleaner install because I didn't want to bring all the excess baggage from my other computer, but this time I've lost my Home Videos folder artwork, but that's fine, I'll live.

I just downloaded iTunes on Catalina using Retroactive. Once installed I simply copied over my iTunes folder backup from high sierra to the music folder on Catalina and viola. Everything works perfectly. Syncing, backing up, iTunes store. My artwork is all there and correct too. I recommend using iTunes for now until Apple fixes that garbage music application.