help with understanding Apple Music & iTunes Match

[SolarCanoe]

I had iTunes Match since before Apple Music came around and I really liked iTunes Match.

I now have Apple Music which is amazing but I realized I got billed for iTunes Match. Why would they bill me for that if I have an Apple Music subscription? I thought Apple Music covered all the features of iTunes Match so do I need both?

Thank you

 

[EDH667]

I had iTunes Match since before Apple Music came around and I really liked iTunes Match.

I now have Apple Music which is amazing but I realized I got billed for iTunes Match. Why would they bill me for that if I have an Apple Music subscription? I thought Apple Music covered all the features of iTunes Match so do I need both?

Thank you

You can use bot Apple Music and iTunes Match together.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204962

From the Apple Website:

You can use Apple Music and iTunes Match together.

When you subscribe to both services, your iCloud Music Library will make available 256 Kbps DRM-free AAC files only for songs matched using iTunes on your Mac or PC.

Songs that can’t be matched are uploaded from iTunes to your iCloud Music Library and stored in iCloud in their uploaded form. You can also download them in that same uploaded form when you save them offline on your other devices.

 

[bigcstyle4]

If you drop iTunes Match, anything you add to your library from "other" sources that are matched will be an Apple Music DRM protected file on your other devices, instead of DRM free.

 

[McGiord]

I have iTunes Match and are not planning on getting Apple Muscic. Paying $25 per year for Match is still better than having a monthly rate that end in about $120 per year or $180, I don't really have a need for all the music out there in the world of Apple Music. When I like an artist I do like getting all its music, full albums instead of picking a few songs.
My library continues to grow every heard and I currently have more than 300GB, and having limited iOS storage size had been the main driver to keep the library in the cloud with iTunes Match.
Sadly the album artwork is almost never recognized even though the same album does exists in the iTunes Store.
What are the real benefits or the new Apple Music service vs the Match one?
Can you keep all what you downloaded from Apple Music after you cancel the service? Are there limitations that will then convert you into a more Apple addict than what we already are?
What are the extra catches?

 

[BSben]

It really depends really very much on your taste in music which one serves you better. If you live in your home country and listen mostly to mainstream music Apple Music may be the better option. If you listen to music from independent labels or moved to another country, but still like artists from your home country, chances are they are not all available on Apple Music. Another thing to consider is how much money would you usually pay to buy music. I am currently subscribing to both, but am considering leaving Apple Music for the time being.

 

[lordofthereef]

The easiest way to explain this, IMO, is to point out that iTunes match has no limitations in terms of what content you can upload. Apple music streaming is exactly the same as the "match" part of iTunes match. That is, if it's in Apple's catalogue, its yours to stream, just the same as iTunes match. You need to consider how much of your music is not in Apple's catalogue and go from there.

 

[imacken]

If you drop iTunes Match, anything you add to your library from "other" sources that are matched will be an Apple Music DRM protected file on your other devices, instead of DRM free.

But does that actually matter in practical terms? If you stop your sub to Apple Music at some point in the future, then you can just restart a Match sub with all your 'owned' content.

 

[bigcstyle4]

But does that actually matter in practical terms? If you stop your sub to Apple Music at some point in the future, then you can just restart a Match sub with all your 'owned' content.

It depends on what you expect from the service. If you're using it as your only backup and say you have a hard drive crash, you won't get another DRM-free copy for if you cancel Apple Music.

It also depends on how often and how much you add new music, and how long you plan to pay for Apple Music. If it's in perpetuity then you have nothing to worry about and can drop Match.

 

[Tech198]

Apple music -: DRM in Apple music catalog and 'matched' tracks, No DRM on songs uploaded
iTunes Match -: No DRM at all. Matches from iTunes Store.
Apple music+iTunes Match : No DRM on matched songs

iTunes match is separate service, maybe you didn't cancel iTunes Match??, this would explain why u got billed.

When u cancel one service, the other remains.... You would still be paying for two services even though they both have their differences. So just turn ff auto renewal off iTunes Match and Apple music will stay.

 

[Paco II]

Are you certain this description is correct? My understanding is this:

Apple Music only: your non-source devices only get DRM'ED Music, regardless if it is music from your source library or AM library. It won't erase tracks from your source computers, but it is not a storage approach.

Apple Music + iTunes Match: all your source music, regardless if matched or uploaded, will be available DRM-free on all your devices.

Apple music -: DRM in Apple music catalog and 'matched' tracks, No DRM on songs uploaded
iTunes Match -: No DRM at all. Matches from iTunes Store.
Apple music+iTunes Match : No DRM on matched songs

 

[Tech198]

Are you certain this description is correct?

I prefer my version. Both are correct, but words like "non-sourced" and then u make reference to your own library, makes thing a bit confusing.

 

[Ludatyk]

I think Apple dropped the ball with this... I think iTunes Match should just be free. To avoid any confusion.. And have Apple Music it's only streaming service.

If it wasn't for Apple Music integration with Siri & everything... I would just go with Google Play Music. Now that Google matched Apple's family plan. Google allows free music upload granted they are collecting user data, but Apple is able to cover it with the amounts of profit they receive.

 

[Julien]

I think Apple dropped the ball with this... I think iTunes Match should just be free. To avoid any confusion....

Match is in part intended to allow people with pirated music to acquire and update to a legal copy. So Apple is paying the music industry for permission to perform Match.

 

[wlossw]

Match is in part intended to allow people with pirated music to acquire and update to a legal copy. So Apple is paying the music industry for permission to perform Match.

Agreed. I actually suspect this is a major part of the reasoning, especially when you consider that iTunes Store purchased music is already available in the cloud... So match is exclusively for music from "other" sources... CDs and music of dubious origin...

So I was a happy match subscriber and I didn't renew my Apple Music subscription... But then the less technical members of my family started wanting Apple Music so in the end I got a family account for Apple Music for 6 users at 15$ per month, or 2.50$ per person, and canceled my iTunes Match. As long as you have a backup of your owned music, Apple Music can be a good solution.

In my case (large family) it actually ended up saving us money overall because now the kids don't use tons of data listening to music on YouTube when out and about...

 

[Ludatyk]

Match is in part intended to allow people with pirated music to acquire and update to a legal copy. So Apple is paying the music industry for permission to perform Match.

I understand that. I've been using since its introduction, but there's confusion with Apple Music & iTunes Match among the public. Why not swallow the $25 and allow iTunes Match for free or perhaps lower the match limit to get people to gravitate toward Apple Music?

 

[Paco II]

Do you have a citation to support this, or it is just an opinion?

Match is in part intended to allow people with pirated music to acquire and update to a legal copy. So Apple is paying the music industry for permission to perform Match.

 

[Julien]

Do you have a citation to support this, or it is just an opinion?

https://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/0...y-counting-how-many-times-a-song-is-accessed/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyol...olders-love-itunes-match-and-pirates-hate-it/
http://fortune.com/2011/06/07/apple-offers-music-pirates-permanent-amnesty-for-24-99/
http://www.zdnet.com/article/itunes-match-legitimising-your-illegal-music-collection/
http://www.popularmechanics.com/tec...acy-because-piracy-no-longer-matters-6562084/
http://betanews.com/2011/06/06/got-...9-per-year-for-itunes-match-and-riaa-amnesty/

 

[Paco II]

Ok so really only opinion and conjecture. Nothing official. I didn't think Apple had acknowledged anything like that.

https://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/0...y-counting-how-many-times-a-song-is-accessed/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyol...olders-love-itunes-match-and-pirates-hate-it/
http://fortune.com/2011/06/07/apple-offers-music-pirates-permanent-amnesty-for-24-99/
http://www.zdnet.com/article/itunes-match-legitimising-your-illegal-music-collection/
http://www.popularmechanics.com/tec...acy-because-piracy-no-longer-matters-6562084/
http://betanews.com/2011/06/06/got-...9-per-year-for-itunes-match-and-riaa-amnesty/