iPod 'Export library' Can this serve as a backup

[GilesM]

If I export my iTunes library to an .xml file on an external drive, is this an effective back up (in addition to Time Machine)?

 

[Cinematographer]

The .xml file contains data like name, artist, composer and probably playcount, but not the music files itself. You can easily tell that by the size of the file.

An effective backup would be to drag the whole Music/iTunes folder to the external HD.

 

[GilesM]

I see, thank you, I will make a manual back up then...
Thanks