Apple Music vs. Spotify Compared

[BuddyTronic]

I just switched from Android to iPhone XR and started a free 1 month trial of Apple Music. I only get 1 month because I have had apple music before but switched to google play music. I like Apple Music a lot, but there is one major limitation that might force me to have to cancel. I can't add music from my computer to my iPhone or iPad. I have a few concert DVD's that I extracted the audio from. I was able to add them to google play music but cannot do it with Apple.

You used to be able to do that. It's confusing. You likely still can do it. I have some tunes I want to put in there, but just haven't gotten around to it.

Can't you play those MP3's on your computer on iTunes and then plug in your iPhone or something and transfer them as "downloaded" music?

Surely Apple does not prevent you from listening to your own MP3's - I mean that's ludicrous. Of course you can do it - but maybe you just gotta think it through, and I honestly don't have the answer but would bet it exists and is pretty simple to do.

 

[Dexter0223]

You used to be able to do that. It's confusing. You likely still can do it. I have some tunes I want to put in there, but just haven't gotten around to it.

Can't you play those MP3's on your computer on iTunes and then plug in your iPhone or something and transfer them as "downloaded" music?

Surely Apple does not prevent you from listening to your own MP3's - I mean that's ludicrous. Of course you can do it - but maybe you just gotta think it through, and I honestly don't have the answer but would bet it exists and is pretty simple to do.

You used to be able to do that. It's confusing. You likely still can do it. I have some tunes I want to put in there, but just haven't gotten around to it.

Can't you play those MP3's on your computer on iTunes and then plug in your iPhone or something and transfer them as "downloaded" music?

Surely Apple does not prevent you from listening to your own MP3's - I mean that's ludicrous. Of course you can do it - but maybe you just gotta think it through, and I honestly don't have the answer but would bet it exists and is pretty simple to do.

It can be done, but it is a royal pain. The problem is because of the iCloud music library. If it is on you cannot transfer your music to any device. I am on the phone with Apple support right now. Apparently, you have to shut off iCloud music library, which will remove all the music you downloaded from apple music. Then you can transfer your music to the library. Then when you turn icloud back on your apple music songs return, but you have to redownload them again.

 

[user1234]

With iCloud library turned on on all devices music from the computer (iTunes) will be available on the phone via the iCloud music library. I do this. It can then be downloaded on the phone for offline listening too.

 

[BuddyTronic]

It can be done, but it is a royal pain. The problem is because of the iCloud music library. If it is on you cannot transfer your music to any device. I am on the phone with Apple support right now. Apparently, you have to shut off iCloud music library, which will remove all the music you downloaded from apple music. Then you can transfer your music to the library. Then when you turn icloud back on your apple music songs return, but you have to redownload them again.

aha! Yes that sounds right. Silly stuff! I have no clue anymore what iTunes is for. And I’m supposed to care enough to learn the difference between Apple Music and iCloud music library.

The only reason I ever touch onto that stuff is when I want to get tunes onto my waterproofed iPod shuffle for lane swimming. I kind of have it working somewhat and I don’t want to mess with it or it’s going to screw up my playlist and I don’t want to spend hours arranging my music are used to do that but I don’t enjoy it as much anymore - feels like work

 

[iSayuSay]

I just switched from Android to iPhone XR and started a free 1 month trial of Apple Music. I only get 1 month because I have had apple music before but switched to google play music. I like Apple Music a lot, but there is one major limitation that might force me to have to cancel. I can't add music from my computer to my iPhone or iPad. I have a few concert DVD's that I extracted the audio from. I was able to add them to google play music but cannot do it with Apple.

You certainly can do that! It's a feature called called iCloud Music Library with which you may add some tracks unavailable on Apple Music. The only caveat is that you need a computer and iTunes to do this. There's no other workaround.

Open iTunes on your computer, log in to the Apple ID you're using for your Apple Music. Add your own music to iTunes, and right click, "Add to iCloud Music Library". It should be uploaded within seconds.

After that make sure you're enabling "iCloud Music Library" in all your iOS devices and your musics should show up on "Library" tab. Stream as usual.

 

[B.A.T]

@Dexter0223 I've been able to do this with Apple Music. I added the songs to my library on my iMac and in less than an hour those songs were in my library on my phone. I've done it with bootlegs, bands that can't be found on any streaming service and a few albums from bands that for some reason I haven't found on Apple Music. Give it a try.

 

[philip456]

This whole article is pretty irrelevent.

Spotify is fast and responsive, while Apple Music on Mac or Windows, is irriatatingly slow to respond to clicks, takes ages to open, takes forever to connect to the online servers and update and takes too long to start playing a song or album.

I've found this the same on a new 16" MacBook and newish iMac and PCs at home and work. It's been the same for years.

Nothing else matters while this exists.

 

[V_Man]

There's one hidden gem that people miss out, and thats the library integration with Apple Music. I have 25,000 tracks of mainly independent artists, and that's all backed up in the Apple Music Cloud with iCloud Library. About 50% of it is matched.
I know there's iTunes Match, and that does the same thing for a yearly fee, but having my library stored up there, and have access to all the new content is a bonus.

I didn't see an "existing music" sync with spotify. Does it exist?

So a feature that Apple offers and works about half the time is a plus?
I use Apple Music a love it, that’s not a hidden gem.

 

[SClikes]

Both are best! There is a little tough to compare which is better.

Apple Music - 60 million subscribers
Spotify - 155 million premium subscribers

 

[GSWForever8]

I tried Spotify once and I hated it. They make all this “we added” garbage and their ads are repetitive. I perfer Apple Music much much more.