There are niche forums and sites dedicated to sharing previously purchased iTunes Plus files. Legally, you cannot redistribute DRM-free files. However, collectors often use these to find out-of-print albums that Apple no longer sells.
Access via: Apple Music app (macOS/Windows) or iTunes (legacy) Itunes Plus Aac M4a Sites
While Apple doesn't call it "iTunes Plus" anymore, the backend is the same. When you purchase a song from the Apple Store (not streaming), you get a 256 kbps AAC M4A file, DRM-free. There are niche forums and sites dedicated to
In 2007, Steve Jobs published the famous "Thoughts on Music" open letter, pushing record labels to abandon Digital Rights Management (DRM). By 2009, "iTunes Plus" became the standard. Unlike old 128kbps protected files, these new files offered CD-quality sound (in a lossy format) without usage restrictions. ⚠️ Avoid piracy sites — they often re-encode
| Site | Notes | |------|-------| | Apple Music / iTunes Store | Original source. Purchased tracks download as DRM‑free 256 kbps AAC M4A. (Streaming from Apple Music is DRM‑protected.) | | Bandcamp | Many artists offer AAC/M4A downloads when you buy digital. Check format options before purchase. | | 7digital | Sells 256 kbps AAC M4A in many regions. Good for mainstream and independent music. | | Qobuz | Primarily FLAC/ALAC, but select tracks can be downloaded as 320 kbps MP3 or AAC — check per release. | | HDtracks | Mostly lossless, but sometimes offers AAC. Not a primary source. |
⚠️ Avoid piracy sites — they often re-encode low‑quality MP3s to fake M4A, ruining sound. Legitimate stores are cheap and safe.
Download Spek (free software). Open your M4A.