MacOS Apple Music App - Playlist Sync with iPhone?

[migoelo]

Hi all, I have put my favorite radio stations in a playlist in the macOS Apple Music app. If I now sync my iPhone via the Finder app, and thereby also the music library, then this playlist unfortunately does not appear in the iPhone Apple Music app under Playlist. Is there anything I need to be aware of here? Thanks.

 

[arw]

This is probably because the playlist does not include tracks but custom (radio) streams.
Unless there is an actual way to get it working in iOS Music app, here is something that does work:
Export/save the playlist into one single .m3u playlist file directly from iTunes/Music and open that on your iPhone with a dedicated stream player (like VLC).

If necessary, edit the names with a text editor before sending it to VLC:

Spoiler: sample m3u

#EXTM3U
#EXTINF:0,Bayern 1
https://dispatcher.rndfnk.com/br/br1/franken/mp3/mid
#EXTINF:0,Bayern 2
https://dispatcher.rndfnk.com/br/br2/sued/mp3/mid
#EXTINF:0,Bayern 3
https://dispatcher.rndfnk.com/br/br3/live/mp3/mid

 

[migoelo]

I didn't really want to install an extra app on the iPhone for this. Somehow strange (OK is normal for Apple) that this is not possible, especially because you can play TuneIn Radio in the iOS app.

 

[arw]

A different approach using said TuneIn feature:
In the Music.app Radio section, look up all of your favored stations and paste the urls in a Dictionary in Shortcuts.app.
With Monterey and newer you can do this directly on the Mac.
On your iPhone create a Home Screen icon for that shortcut for easy access.

Unfortunately this TuneIn method includes their annoying added jingle plus ads and probably lacks some specific radio stations.
Of course you could insert the official .m3u streams but then the selected radio station / stream would play in a Safari tab instead of Music.app.

edit: Ok, I forgot, on iOS the Shortcuts.app is not installed by default and you didn't want an additional one...