Incorrect match in Apple Music for new CD remaster's.

Question

logic_gate Author

Level 1

4 points

Incorrect match in Apple Music for new CD remaster's.

This is rather frustrating, I'm guessing I'm not alone and that other people must have found the same thing.

I still buy quite a lot of CD's, as I like to own the physical media, alongside streaming.

Back catalogue music releases often involve a studio remaster.

This weekend I bought the 40th Anniversary of Sparkle In The Rain (Simple Minds).

However, following the CD import into Apple Music, rather than uploading the new Abbey Road remaster, it's matching the older 2002 version.

Over the last 12 months I now have a handful of CD's that I cant import the exact version bought into Apple music which is frustrating.

Is there an option to turn off music matching for a specific CD import? (I couldn't find one)

If not, could one be added as a checkbox by Apple as it's an annoying 'niggle' which flaws an otherwise great application?

Thanks any info would be super helpful.

Posted on Jul 30, 2025 07:05 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 30, 2025 07:25 AM in response to logic_gate

Hi,

This is a significant issue with the matching process. Apple use sound fingerprinting and often the remastered version is virtually the same as the original, therefore there is a high possibility that it will be matched with a previous version. What’s worse that it’s matched with a version in compilation of various artists! You can tell which version has been use by clicking on link to iTunes Store.

There is no option to turn off matching process. I have been spending a lot of time trying to correct this with importing new copies with many tracks now being correctly matched. Also if you have a lot of records from 50s & 60s, the music has been reissued so many times it is pot luck if you get to match with the correct version.

Jim

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Answer 2

Jul 30, 2025 10:29 AM in response to logic_gate

You can try disabling “Sync Library”, so you can rip the cd without auto matching. Then edit its metadata (you can try discogs) and make sure it’s exactly the version you want it to be matched with. Turn on sync library and it should be fixed.

This will only work if the version you want matched is available on iTunes, of course.

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Answer 3

Jul 30, 2025 03:11 PM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

You hit a nerve there, Jim. iTunes once matched the original version of Space Oddity to its Italian counterpart, with a completely different name. A welcome surprise, but proves your point that low effort music fingerprinting is the primary method for matching. With metadata matching used as a fallback.

Not to mention the countless studio releases being matched to live albums.

Things like these make me consider getting a Roon lifetime membership.

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Answer 4

Jul 30, 2025 11:29 PM in response to QuiGonJinn

Hi,

The matching process is far from perfect but I have found that the bulk of my music has been matched correctly. I have not come across studio tracks being matched with live versions.

I don’t believe correct Metadata affects the matching process. I have had many albums matched correctly even when metadata has been limited. I have also had many albums where most tracks have been matched correctly but one or two tracks have been matched with versions on a different album, usually a compilation.

Jim

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