Apple Music Lets You Move Spotify Playlists—Here's Why

New Feature in Apple Music Allows Transferring Music from Other Platforms

Apple Music subscribers now have access to a new feature that many may not be aware of. This feature allows users to import songs or playlists from other music platforms, especially Spotify, into their Apple Music library. However, the option to transfer music is not immediately visible and can be found within the settings of the Apple Music app.

This functionality was initially tested in Australia and New Zealand last year and has since been expanded to several countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, and others. The transfer process is powered by SongShift, a service that requires access to the user's music library on the platform they are transferring from.

Once SongShift completes the transfer, Apple Music will attempt to recreate the playlist or song selection based on its own library. Users will then need to verify certain matches, as not all songs may have an exact match on Apple Music. While this feature is available, it appears to have some bugs. For example, when trying to use the Transfer Music button on an Apple device, the button was grayed out with a message stating, "Once the current transfer is complete, you can start another." This occurred even though no transfer had been initiated.

When attempting the transfer through a computer browser, it was possible to move music from a Tidal account. However, Spotify displayed a message saying, "Currently busy, try again later," which prevented any transfers from being made. An Apple representative did not respond to a request for comment on the issue.

Despite these challenges, if the feature works as intended, Spotify users could potentially transfer their playlists and even their entire subscriptions to Apple Music. This could be particularly useful for families that use multiple music services, allowing them to coordinate their music more easily.

Aaron Pruner, a writer for KENAPANGGAK.COM who has created hundreds of streaming-music playlists on both Spotify and Apple Music, mentioned that this feature could solve several of his problems. He explained that he has an Android phone that doesn't work with his HomePod, while his wife uses an iPhone. Being able to make certain playlists accessible and playable on both devices through one streaming platform would be beneficial for their household.

Pruner also highlighted the limitations of his current setup. He noted that being on a Spotify family plan is convenient until he tries to listen to Kendrick Lamar in the car, only to find that the song has been moved to his daughter's bedroom because she is also listening to Spotify at the same time.

Apple’s transfer feature could also make it easier for users to switch from Spotify to Apple Music. Spotify recently made headlines for allowing AI to mimic existing artists, a challenge that several music services have struggled with. Additionally, numerous indie artists, such as King Gizzard and Deerhoof, have left Spotify due to its CEO's investments in AI military projects.

Apple's latest rollout presents a timely opportunity for users concerned about these developments to consider switching to Apple Music. However, the success of the transfer will depend on the overlap between the user's music preferences on other platforms and what Apple Music already offers. It is advisable to hold off on canceling other services until the transfer is complete and the compatibility of Apple Music is verified.