Can't access music bought with old email address

I bought a bunch of music with a now defunct email address.

What do you mean by that?

1.

It depends on what you did with your 'defunct Apple ID'. If you have deleted it, it is no longer valid, it simply no longer exists and it no longer works.

To understand about a deleted Apple ID, see the Apple articles below:

How to delete your Apple ID account

How to delete your Apple ID account – Apple Support (UK)

Understand and control the personal information that you store with Apple

Understand and control the personal information that you store with Apple - Apple Support

2.

If you've ever requested to deactivate your Apple ID, see

See -> How to deactivate your Apple ID account

How to deactivate your Apple ID account – Apple Support (UK)

scroll to ⤵️

How to temporarily deactivate your Apple ID

Sign in with your Apple ID at privacy.apple.com on a Mac, PC, iPhone or iPad, and select "Request to deactivate your account". If you can’t see this option, it means that this feature is not available in your country or region. 

When you request to deactivate your account, you receive a unique alphanumeric access code. Make sure that you keep this access code in a safe place – you must have it to reactivate your account. 

After we verify that you are the account holder making the request, we deactivate your account.

Can I reactivate my account?

Yes. If you request account deactivation, you'll receive a unique alphanumeric access code. When you're ready to reactivate your Apple ID, contact Apple Support, provide your access code and we’ll help you reactivate your account. If you lose this code, we won't be able to help reactivate your account. 

3.

Maybe you can still save that defunct Apple ID (?) . . . .

If you stil have / know that Apple ID, check your Apple ID via your email box, see this Apple article: If you forgot your Apple ID

If you forgot your Apple ID email address or phone number - Apple Support                  

OR see -> Having trouble signing in?

https://iforgot.apple.com/password/verify/appleid

Try this -> If you can't connect or sign in to iCloud

If you can't connect or sign in to iCloud - Apple Support

See also -> Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security

Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support

BTW: You are sign in here .  .  .  with your Apple ID & Password.

Your Apple ID is the personal account you use with all Apple products and services. It includes the email address and password you use to sign in, as well as the contact, payment, and security details that you use with Apple.

You can’t merge multiple Apple ID accounts.

Al Haqiqa wrote:

They worked as long as I had Apple Music. I can't see them any more on any of my devices.

Al,

It sounds like they didn't actually recover the files. Your helper apparently just found the same tracks on AM, which is why the subscription was needed.

If the normal "forgot password" thing does not work, try the heavyweight procedure in here: How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support

Once you regain access to the old account, assuming you are in the same country, and the content is still available, you should be able to redownload fresh copies of your songs at no charge. Follow the steps in here:

Redownload music - Apple Support

Al,

When you say you "got the music back working," do you mean you got the files back onto your computer? if so, you can play them without an AM subscription.