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Apr 12, 2001
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Over the last few weeks, an ever-increasing number of Apple users have been frustratingly sharing issues they're experiencing with iTunes Match, Apple's service that allows users to upload songs to iCloud from other sources, such as CDs.

itunes_match_2015.jpg

iTunes Match is officially part of an Apple Music subscription and is there known as iCloud Music Library. iTunes Match allows users to upload songs and make them available across all of their devices. iTunes Match only uploads songs to users' cloud if it's unavailable to find that same song within the iTunes library. iTunes Match is available outside of Apple Music for $24.99 a year.

Over the last few weeks, an increasing number of users have taken to Twitter, the Apple Support Forums, and Reddit to note that the service has essentially stopped working. Users reports that iTunes Match is stuck in a constant loop of uploading songs or "Matching your music with songs in the iTunes Store." The issue has become so widespread across Twitter that users have created an "iTunesMatchBroken" hashtag.

A large reason for users' frustration is the silence from Apple on the issue. The Apple Support account on Twitter has only responded to some user reports with vague responses and prompts to send the support team a message. In private conversation, some users were told by Apple Support that there is no ongoing issue with the service and that it's instead an issue with their device, despite the widespread nature of issues.

A few of the reports point to the recent macOS Big Sur 11.5 update as the trigger for the issue; however, users across macOS versions are also sharing their unpleasant experiences.

For the last week, Apple has refused to respond to comment on the situation, including whether the service is in the process of being shut down. If we do hear back from Apple, we'll be sure to let MacRumors readers know.

Update: Apple has updated a support document titled "Subscribe to iTunes Match" with a new notice for users, saying that "It might take some time for iTunes Match to upload your music from your Mac or PC." This seemingly means that for all iTunes Match users facing issues with the service, Apple advises to simply be patient.

Article Link: iTunes Match Users Frustratingly Report Widespread Issues [Updated]
 
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Mine has been sticky of late. I found that Apple Music just stalls if it's been Open too long. I have a cron job now to kill the application and restart it at midnight.
MacMini 2012/16gb Ram/Catalina
 
An issue I have with iTunes Match, is Atmos and lossless versions of songs. The music app seems to default to the non-fancy version of songs I have in my iTunes Match library. If I know the album is in Apple Music, I delete it from my library and then it plays the lossless version. Would be really nice if the Music app was smart enough to just always play the high quality version of songs.
 
I have had this problem and started a thread about it in the forums. It is very frustrating. I am glad Macrumors has mentioned this is happening. I hope Apple addresses the problem and has its engineers fix it. I like using iCloud Music Library, but with the bug I am no longer able to add new songs.
 
> iTunes Match is officially part of an Apple Music subscription

This is not correct. The matching that you get with Apple Music is different, it applies DRM to the unmatched files when it uploads them. iTunes Match will just upload your original files.

I know this because I was relying on Apple Music to sync my tracks that it couldn't match. It worked fine for a while then suddenly stopped working for all my uploaded music. After talking to various folks at Apple it was decided that the DRM must have gone wrong somehow and the only resolution was to delete and re-match all my music again.

I haven't got around to that yet and have been considering moving to iTunes Match to avoid the application of the DRM to my uploaded music.

Update: The DRM thing is no longer true! Thanks to some replies for correcting me. I just uploaded some music and it downloaded as a mp3 rather than a DRM m4a. That's great news!
 
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I was pretty hooked on apple music for 4 or 5 months. The long load times (specifically on the Mac) and how some songs are louder than others and causing me to constantly turn my music up or down drove me back to spotify.
There is an option to "even out" the volume from song to song, but I think it makes the music lose sparkle and/or dulls it. So I to am constantly stabbing the volume buttons on my keyboard on my Macs.

 
I wouldn’t be surprised if they are looking to get rid of this service, I would say for vast majority of people the Apple Music catalog has everything. But Apple should either fix it or retire it, especially for a paid service.
 
Apple's support for iTunes is beyond ludicrous... my wife couldn't buy an album she waited 10 years for, it took them I think almost 3 weeks to fix it on their end. It was a server issue that prohibited her from using it. They said they'd fix it by a Friday, we were trying multiple times every day, they fixed it on the Thursday just before the Friday and never even ****ing responded to her complaint or let her know it's fixed or nothing.

Garbage customer service.

I can imagine with iTunes match...
 
Over the past few WEEKS users are frustrated?!?

Back when Match launched, I uploaded my massive, meticulously curated library, with months of live recordings and Match completely hosed my Library. Still hosed today - however many years later (when did Match launch?).

Ex: I’ve recorded a lot of live performances over the years from taper-friendly bands like Phish. With Match, 60% of a show plays the files I recorded. The other 40%, Match decided to replace the live recorded file with a studio version of the same song without any kind of notice or apparent way to fix. Makes for an awful listening experience. Has been the biggest nightmare of my near 30-year Apple journey. Just, forever broken. Been a while since I thought about it. Grrr.


Edit: holy smokes! iTunes Match launched in 2003?!? I'm old.
Edit #2: I didn't even know Match was still a thing.
 
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