I drafted editorial director Jason Snell to help me reckon this one out , and we ’ve got good news : Any computer that is authorized to play protected iTunes euphony can add that euphony to iTunes Match . This is the causa even if the Apple ID being used for iTunes Match is n’t the same one that was used to buy the music .
I have an album in my iTunes program library that was buy using a house phallus ’s Apple ID . This album was purchased in the day before iTunes went DRM - free , so every song is a saved AAC single file — that is , they are transcript - protected and linked to a exclusive Apple ID . My laptop computer is authorized to play content purchased by that ID , so I can take heed to the song on my computing machine and on my iPhone ; unfortunately , I ca n’t move it to any other computer of mine ( my iMac at oeuvre , for example ) because that Apple ID has attain its terminus ad quem of five authorized information processing system , and protect iTunes music wo n’t play on data processor that are unauthorized .
Enter iTunes Match . When I turn on the service of process on my laptop , those protected songs showed up with an iCloud Status of Matched . This is the same status iTunes Match uses for songs you ’ve rip from a CD or receive from other sources , and it argue that you’re able to re - download the call again as a DRM - spare 256 - kbps AAC data file .
Before and after: Delete and re-download a protected song you’re authorized to play, and it will convert to a DRM-free AAC.
Before and after : Delete and re - download a protected vocal you ’re clear to play , and it will convert to a DRM - free AAC .
When I deleted one of these protected song from my library and re - downloaded it by click the iCloud download button , ownership was transferred to my iTunes Match account and the filing cabinet downloaded as a DRM - gratis AAC file . So I can now heed that Mike Doughty album on my piece of work iMac , too .
Protected Sung dynasty you are n’t authorized to play are not eligible for iTunes Match .
Protected songs you aren’t authorized to play are not eligible for iTunes Match.
Jason and I confirm that this will only work with songs your computer is authorized to roleplay . I tried adding a protect song of Jason’s — which I am not authorized to act as — to my iTunes program library , and iTunes Match told me it was “ Not Eligible ” for matching . Once Jason authorized my reckoner , however , the track status changed to “ Matched , ” and I was capable to blue-pencil it and re - download it as my own . When Jason de - authorized my computer , the caterpillar tread tied to his iTunes ID were take from iCloud .
Un - protect purchases do not have this limitation : I added a DRM - free iTunes song to my library that Jason had buy , and it now demonstrate up as “ Matched , ” no authorization required . ( Of naturally , give birdcall to your friends is still illegal . iTunes Match does n’t change that . )
Both of these method acting will require a track that still survive on the iTunes Store ; if the track has been pulled , you ’ll be given the option to upload the song , but when you re - download it , it will reelect to your library as a protected .m4p file cabinet ( if it has DRM ) or a DRM - free file with the original possessor in its metadata .
While there are almost certainly ways to maltreat this feature , it ’s good news for family and other chemical group who purchase iTunes medicine from more than one account in the bad quondam days of DRM . Once you purchase a subscription to iTunes Match , you may blend all your music into a single Apple ID by re - downloading caterpillar track , and on top of that , you may rain cats and dogs it to ten different devices . It only work for euphony — you ca n’t do this for mobile apps , television , podcasts , or any number of other iTunes Store purchase — but it ’s a overnice start .
