Apple Music app and mp3tag Data out of Sync

Mac
1

mp3tag version: 1.8.23 (107)
Apple Music version 1.4.6.32
macOS version: 14.6.1 (23G93)
Apple Music library on external SSD connected over USB-C.

This behavior has been seen (thus far) for ALBUM ART, COMMENT, DISCNUMBER.

At times, mp3tag displays outdated content for above tags after updating the tag's values in Apple Music app. Only work around, has been to purge tag content from within mp3tag (which will purge from view in Apple Music app), and then re-enter updated tag content using Apple Music (or mp3tag). It is as though Apple Music is never writing the updated content to file (even though it continues to display this updated content) or mp3tag is displaying stale cached content.

When problem arises for particular album, it will persist for this album across application quits and computer reboots.

In sum, at times Apple Music and mp3tag metadata are not keeping in sync. Gefahr!

2

If you have the library function enabled in mp3tag it will not update the information when opened. You can refresh the tag info to have it grab the latest details that are embedded in the file.

If Apple Music is not updating the file, then that won't help. You may need to see if there is a method to force Apple Music to write tag data back to the file and not just within its' own database.

3

thanks for your note, motleyG. library function disabled in mp3tag. refresh tag info continues to display the stale data.

it does appear Apple Music is keeping a database independent of the file tag. it usually keeps these data in sync instantaneously. but there are times it doesn't, and then danger lurks as mp3tag will overwrite any Apple Music (unsynced) database entires unbeknownst to unsuspecting mp3tag user. i've tried forcing Apple Music to force a write to file but without success.

So probably an Apple Music bug or some Apple Music database corruption.

4

Even on the Windows version of iTunes there is a delay.

My suggestion is to pick one for your editing needs and stick with that. Mp3tag is more powerful and I prefer to use it in my case.

5

Yes, this has always been the way it works for the Apple Music app and also for the iTunes app for the last 10 years or so. Apple considers it expected behaviour, so complain there. If I need to update tags, I usually just delete the album from the library and re-adds with correct tags.

6

I have resorted to this in the past as well. But I now use a script to force iTunes (Win) to update. Thank you to Samsoft for sharing this!
Update Tag Info

7

How do I make this script work? What program would I need to install in order to actually use it?

8

These scripts are simple executable actions that can be run like any other program. In general you have to select a group of files in iTunes first in order to have the script apply to a smaller subset of your library. Otherwise the program runs against all files. If you have a larger library that could take a while to complete.

9

Thank you so much! I didn't realize they were that simple. I initially ran the VBS via the Command Prompt Terminal after I saved the file into my computer (on the assumption that I couldn't interact with it any other way), but it turns out I was overcomplicating matters by doing it that way.