On Cloud Nine: Improve Your iCloud Music Library with These Simple Tricks
The right song will make any moment special.
Long gone are the days of 8 tracks, mix-tapes, and compact discs. When was the last time you saw an mp3 player?
Through the whiplash speed of modern technology, most music libraries are now completely digital and float above our heads. There are millions of songs in the ether waiting for the appropriate moment.
Read on to optimize your iCloud Music experience.
iCloud Music
iCloud music functions almost exactly like your iCloud Photos. The cloud stores all of your iTunes music across ten of your Apple devices, meaning your music will be readily available.
Your iCloud Music Library stores all of your iTunes music, and up to 100,000 other songs as well. When using iCloud music, it is important to note that your iTunes iCloud Music Library does not count toward those 100,000 songs.
Subscribe
One of the ways to get the most out of your iCloud Music Library is to subscribe to the Apple Music streaming service.
You will have access to the latest hits and music trends. Apple Music works in concert (pun intended) with iCloud Music in several important ways.
Apple Music will scan your iTunes purchased library, and replace those songs with Apple Music versions to free up storage space.
Apple Music also allows subscribers to download songs and playlists from the streaming service for offline use. These playlists and songs downloaded by subscribers do not count toward the 100,000 song storage limit.
Apple Music Perks
There are other reasons to use Apple Music combined with iCloud Music Library to elevate your experience.
Don’t sing the wrong words to a song. The service is equipped with lyrics to every song in its library. You will finally know that Manfred Mann refers to a deuce coupe ’32 Ford in “Blinded by the Light,” not a feminine hygiene product.
Say you’ve taken an interest in jazz whereas three years ago, you loved the top 40. Apple Music allows the user to add songs to playlists without additional purchase.
These playlists and songs are added to your iCloud Music Library and do not count toward your storage limitations.
Another feature is the recently launched Apple Music 1. Formerly called Beats 1, this live radio accessible to Apple Music subscribers helps your iCloud Music Library stay fresh and current.
Match Game
Another trick to improve your iCloud Music Library experience is simple. By enabling iCloud Music Library, your downloaded music ripped from CDs or downloaded elsewhere will upgrade to iTunes quality.
This allows for a streamlined, quality, and consistent listening experience.
Songs that are rare or not licensed to Apple Music or iTunes will still upload, but they will not upgrade in sound quality.
Sharing is Caring
One of the most underrated features of Apple Music and the iCloud Music Library is the ability for separate users to share music while keeping their library intact through the Family Sharing feature.
This allows you to share your favorite music or crafted playlists with anyone in your family group. If you are into what they send, you have the option of storing any song or an entire shared playlist within your music library.
Ease of Use
Using iCloud Music is easy. Simply open iTunes on your Mac, and under System, Preferences click General and click a checkmark next to iCloud Music Library.
After enabling iCloud Music Library, you will be prompted to either “merge” or “replace.”
To “merge” adds the songs already on your Mac to your iCloud Music Library. They will be available on your Apple devices.
To replace changes iTunes and other files on your Mac with Apple Music files.
Don’t fret, audiophiles. Your Apple Music files stream at the same fidelity of all iTunes files.
Backup, Backup, Backup
Live through the experience of a crash once, and you’ll never want to live it again. You know how desperate you feel when your music, your photos, your important files disappear.
One of the coolest perks of iCloud Music Library is that it automatically backs up all your Apple Music content into the cloud.
To do this on your iPhone or iPad, simply go into the “Settings” menu, hit “Music,” and select, “Enable iCloud Music Library.”
On your Mac, open iTunes or “Music” (depending on your model) and “Enable iCloud Music Library.”
Keep Backing Up
Technology fails. This is inevitable.
Apple’s products have a sterling reputation in the technological world, however they are not without glitches.
There may come a time when you are unable to connect to the iCloud Music Library. You won’t have to worry if you’ve backed up adequately.
Consider secondary backup cloud storage. These online services safeguard all of your data from permanent loss. An added bonus for employing this storage strategy is that it will also keep other important files safe.
External hard drives are another way to make sure the music keeps playing no matter the issues you have with your technology.
While external hard drives and cloud storage service are not a neat trick or tip for iCloud Music Library improvement, they are a valuable resource to safeguard yourself from a disaster.
Rave On
Your iCloud Music Library is a convenient, technological marvel that will help you maintain your grasp on the latest trends and provide a constant soundtrack for your life.
Through a few important tweaks like an Apple Music subscription, Family Sharing, and secondary backup, you will harness the full power of this technology.
So crank your iCloud Music up to 11 and keep the tunes bumping.
