Is there any Apple Music integration coming to Plex? Similar to having a Tidal subscription. In order to run on Plexamp with Sonic sage.
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sorry, there isn’t.
Thank you.
Is there any particular reason why? Is it something that is possible and it’s just not been implemented yet or is it not in the cards? If not, why not?
Locked ecosystems are one thing, LICENSES and contracts to use services don’t just work out of thin air and for free. There is a cost to every implementation of service. There are talks amongst lawyers and the companies involved just to make sure there is no misunderstanding, conflicts and things that only CEO and boardroom people would take issue with. Consumers are the last ones to truly know what takes place until after the fact.
Apple doesn’t provide an integration.
Thanks to both of you for those answers. Unfortunate but it makes sense.
Out of curiosity, understandably you nor anyone knows what Google had to do to get permission to access Apples API for Google Assistant Devices to playback Apple Music streaming services but I imagine it’s much more complex in terms of account management. The Plex ecosystem would have to somehow be able to access and coordinate a huge effort to catalog and make sure each third party music service, had the same mechanics or similar standards across the board… or at least from an outsider POV.
It’s the whole reason why these corporations are not just responsible for the music licensing but the actual app and UI designs across each of their respective platforms and from a Plex user stand point, I think Plex Inc. is just better off finding alliance and partners wherever possible but very much focus on the home lab and customization of the current at-home music experience. You or someone stated that Plex has to do a lot of labor to work with Tidal to function on Plex’s end, such as pulling tracks for sweet fades and volume leveling, so I doubt any of that would be possible with the complexity of Apple’s very own DRM infrastructure on Apple Music.
Not to sound flippant, but even if Plexamp could integrate Apple Music, Qobuz, Spotify, Amazon Music, Internet Radio, et al, it would be a bloatware nightmare. I do understand why folks do ask for add-on support though… it’s because the Plexamp user interface has been voted “most awesome”… 
Would MusicKit be a possible solution to this? I see it is available on both iOS and Android and they have an API for “Web” apps that could likely be used more widely. I know there are several 3rd party clients for Apple Music using this, but I’m not 100% sure of the limitations of the API. It’s certainly possible it doesn’t allow for Plexamp’s more unique features. I’d need to dig into the docs to understand better. MusicKit - Apple Developer
At that point there’s not really much Plexamp could offer as the advanced features are mostly built around sonic analysis, media analysis, or rich metadata.
Its very very limiting, requires Apples Music app for authentication, you dont get lossless streams and you have to use their playback engine. Ever asked why you dont see Apple Music integration on more hardware or even other software like Plex, Roon, Audivarna well its because they dont make it easy. and you have to jump through hoops to make it work. Apple only want you to work one way The API is purely for apps on phones or tablets and web pages to utilise Apple Music using a different skin and interface and not much more. Its not for apps that have their own underlying library management and playback architecture. Sonos and a few select incar systems have been allowed to have a closer integration as Apples deemed it worthy.
HifiRose added support using webkit to appease customers but its buggy as hell, has DRM issues regularly and is generally looked at as a dogs dinner as it not meant to be used this way. Several othe vendors have clearly stated its just not a viable option . Roon recently announced that Apple were willing to work with them but hit an empass as they had severe restrictions limiting it to Apple hardware only and it had to bypass all their player features and use some extra DRM.
Until Apple decide to have a proper API like Tidal or Qobuz and to some extent Amazon but thats also pretty rubbbish, your not going to get Apple Music in anything else unless they deem its worth them opening up a bit. So never really.
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