Apple Music - "This Item Cannot Be Downloaded"

Software
1

I have been using iTunes/Apple Music for over 15 years without problem. I was playing music successfully a couple of days ago.
Today, when trying to use a Playlist on my iMac, I had an error message “This Item Cannot be Downloaded. The item you have requested is not available for download”. This only affects some tracks, but not all. IT does affect all my devices and I get the same error message on my iPhone and iPad.
I spoke with Apple Support, as a result of which I (re)subscribed to iTunes Match. That has not helped.
I have files for all my tracks copied from my own CD collection or purchased from Apple on my hard drive. I can import those into Music. However, if I have to do that for every track that will not currently play it will take hours or days.
This fault has arisen out of the blue. I have not made any changes so I have no idea what may have caused it. It is nevertheless very frustrating and reduces my confidence in Apple.
Is anyone else having this problem and does anyone have a solution?

2

I have had this for a few albums, both albums that I have purchased from Apple and albums that I ripped from my own CDs.

I have always assumed it was a licensing issue; an older CD I purchased from the 1990s has been replaced by a new version, and the previous version was retired for instance, or some other licensing issue.

I’ve had it happen with Apple Books as well.

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3

Thanks for your comment.
At the moment I do not see a common factor for the tracks that will not download. Some are from albums I have loaded from CDs over many years. Others are tracks I have added from Apple Music subscription. Others are from albums I bought from iTunes.
What I find utterly frustrating is that playlists have been wrecked by an error that has arisen for no obvious reason. I have relied on iTunes/Music since I first bought an iPod. It is very disappointing that after years of reliability something beyond my control has ruined my experience.

4

I’ve had problems before but typically only with music I bought from Apple. Something I never do anymore.

One thing you could try is take a really good backup, delete the entire iTunes library and bulk reload from your copies you have and see if that helps.

Or create a new user on your desktop. Try to upload everything to that user and see if you can get it to connect to your devices.

Otherwise that is one of the big issues with DRM and control. You bought and paid for stuff you should be able to use it without issues.

5

I suspect but do not know that when you upload your music to iCloud, the match that Apple makes mean Apple’s file is substituted for your file. So a licensing issue on Apple’s end affects the integrity of the track even if it came from your own CD,

I have returned to buying CDs and Blu-Ray/DVDs because of related issues. I’ve also had ebooks vanish from books I purchased at Apple or Amazon.

6

This download “problem” resolved itself the next day. I am obviously happy that I again have access to my full music library, but also concerned that I have no idea what caused the problem, or solved it for that matter.

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