Apple had agreed to share the subscription fee with record labels

For a fee Apple scans users' libraries, allowing songs to be replaced with higher quality versions.--These can then be accessed from other Apple devices. The service has been described as an "amnesty for music pirates" although it does not formally protect users against copyright infringement prosecutions. For a £21.99 annual charge, users can match and replace up to 25,000 songs stored on their computer, including CD-rips as well as tracks obtained by other means.

Apple said it does not change anything in users' music libraries unless they choose to download the firm's "high-quality" versions to replace their existing files. If the initial scan finds songs it does not recognise on the user's hard drive, they are uploaded to Apple's servers. Users can then download or stream the songs to other computers logged into their iTunes account, as well as to iPhones, iPads and other iOS devices. It removes a previous restriction that caused users to be charged if they downloaded songs for a second time from Apple's online store. Apple is experiencing problems with its iTunes Store and iCloud services, with many Twitter users reporting that they are unable to log in using their Apple ID to download apps.

Apple had no comment, according to a spokesman. Music industry insiders have welcomed the launch.
"We believe that it creates a great and seamless experience for music buyers that will ultimately see increased sales and digital conversion," Paul Smernicki, director of digital for Universal Music UK, told the BBC.--Analysts had originally thought it would take Apple longer to get permission from record labels for the UK launch. "The reason why this can happen is because Apple essentially owns the music industry's most valuable customers - the ones spending the lion's share in the digital marketplace," said Mark Mulligan, an independent digital analyst.

Although Amazon and Google offer rival cloud music services, they have yet to offer them to UK customers. --Experts say Apple is not focused on making its service a moneyspinner. When the service launched in the US a month ago, reports noted that Apple had agreed to share the subscription fee with record labels - effectively helping them monetise illegal downloads. Glitch? A search of Twitter revealed that subscribers across the world had complained that iTunes had refused to recognise their Apple IDs, and said access to Apple's other cloud services was also affected.

With the Thursday launch of iTunes Match in Canada there is a way to “wash” those tracks clean, and while you’re at it upload your entire music library to iCloud and stream it to all of i-devices or Apple-connected entertainment gear. Match costs $27.99 a year, and is the iTunes response to streaming music services like Spotify, Rdio and others. There is a limit to Apple’s largesse: It will only match 25,000 ripped or bootlegged songs, tracks you bought from Apple do not count against that cap.