iTunes is a popular source for downloading and listening to music, but if you're not familiar with the program, knowing how to add music can be overwhelming. Here, you'll learn how to add music to your library from a variety of sources, as well as sell and market your songs on iTunes.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Importing Music from CD
Step 1. Open iTunes
Allow the program to load completely.
Step 2. Insert your CD in the CD or DVD drive
Once iTunes opens, insert your CD into your computer. Wait a few moments for iTunes to recognize your CD. If your computer is connected to the Internet, iTunes will look up your CD information online and insert it into the program. Otherwise, iTunes will ask you to connect to the Internet or skip this step.
Information that will be obtained when you connect to the Internet includes album name, artist, song title, composer information, and album art
Step 3. Import songs
A dialog box will appear asking you to import the CD. Click "Yes" if you want to import all the songs from the CD into your library. If you only want to import certain songs, click "No" and clear the check box for the songs you don't want to import. When finished, click "Import CD" at the bottom right of the screen.
iTunes may give you a second dialog box with the option to import songs. The default options should be checked, but you can change the current import settings if you want
Step 4. Wait for the songs to finish importing
The program will display the import progress for each song in a bar at the top of the screen. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour, depending on the length of the CD you are importing. After the CD has finished importing, iTunes will play a short tone to remind you.
Step 5. Check the CD you have imported
View your iTunes music library and swipe to the location of the CD you've imported. Make sure all album information has been imported along with the music file. If it's not imported, you can add it manually by right-clicking the song or song selection, then selecting "Get Info" from the menu.
Method 2 of 4: Importing Music from Your Computer
Step 1. Open iTunes
Allow the program to load completely before you try to add music.
Step 2. Open your iTunes settings
If the "Copy Files to the iTunes Music folder when adding to library" box is checked, not only will the music be added to your music library, it will be copied to additional locations on your computer. You can turn this option off and on by going to the Advanced tab in the iTunes Preferences dialog, which can be accessed from the File menu.
Step 3. Find the "Add to Library" option
This option lets you easily transfer songs from your computer to iTundes. If you're on a Mac, you can find this option by going to the File menu and selecting "Add to Library". If you are using Windows, go to the File menu and select "Add File to Library" or "Add Folder to Library". The first menu is used to add a single file, while the second menu is used to add an entire folder to your iTunes library.
Step 4. Browse to the file or folder
Find the mp3 file you want to retrieve from another location on your computer. You can select more than one item from the same folder at once by selecting a song and holding down the "Shift" key until you have selected the number of songs you want.
- You can add files in AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Apple Lossless, or Audible.com formats.
- iTunes for Windows can also convert WMA content to one of the supported formats when you add it to your iTunes library.
Step 5. Add music files or folders
Double-click to select it, or click the "Add" or "Open" button in the file window. Since your files are already on your computer (instead of still on the CD), it will only take a minute or less to move them to iTunes.
Step 6. View your iTunes music library and scroll to the location of the file you have imported
Make sure all album information has been imported along with the music file. If it's not imported, you can add it manually by right-clicking the song or song selection, then selecting "Get Info" from the menu.
Method 3 of 4: Buying Music on iTunes
Step 1. Open iTunes
Allow the program to fully load before you try to add music or change any options.
Step 2. Go to iTunes Store
At the top right of iTunes, a button that says "Store" will appear. Select this menu and wait for the iTunes Store to load. This button is different from the Store menu at the top, next to the "File" and "Edit" menus..
Step 3. Do a search on iTunes Store
Once the store front page loads, you have various options for searching for music. At the top, there are various menus with various options, including music genres, audiobooks, and podcasts that you can explore. If you want to find a song, album, or artist, you also have the option to search for that song in the search bar at the top right of the screen.
Step 4. Purchase/download the item
Once you find something you want to buy or download, click the "Buy" button next to the file. The price of the file will appear next to the button. iTunes will ask you to enter your AppleID, for which you must authorize the purchase with your iTunes ID and password. Click "Finish" after you have entered your information.
Step 5. Wait for the file to download
Once you return to your iTunes library, the bar at the top will tell you the download progress of the file you purchased. You cannot access it until the file has finished downloading. File download times vary, depending on the file size and your internet connection.
Method 4 of 4: Selling Music on the iTunes Store
Step 1. Give your music a professional finish
Before you spread the album through the necessary channels, you need to make sure that the music is neat and salable. Create album covers, edit all song titles, and add captions if necessary.
- Selling music on iTunes is a simple process even for amateur artists, but you have a lot of competition, and your chances of success go up if you make sure your songs are of high quality.
- If you have no experience in mastering and don't know how to do a commercial-scale finish yourself, hire an audio engineer or specialist to do it.
Step 2. Make sure your music is formatted properly
Change your file format to WAV, set the "sample rate" to 44.1kHz, and the "sample size" to 16-bit. You can change the format in iTunes by importing it into a library with a WAV encoder set in custom settings.
Step 3. Add the finishing touches
You'll need cover art and full track credits to submit before online services can help you sell music on the iTunes Store.
- You must have rights to the cover image.
- Make sure the cover image is in JPEG format and the size is 1000x1000 pixels.
Step 4. Get the UPC code
Before you can sell your album, you must have a UPC code. Fortunately, getting the UPC code is an easy process. You can order UPC ID cards by visiting the Uniform Code Council website, or you can ask the CD manufacturer or distributor about the availability of this service. The second option can be cheaper than the first option. You can also get UPC codes online from various online distributors such as CD Baby or DiscMakers, and these options can be cheaper too.
Step 5. Pay attention to Apple apps
To work directly with Apple, you usually need to be backed by a professional label, or at least enough experience to prove you're a pro. Even if you don't qualify, you can sell through third parties.
Step 6. Find an Apple-accepted aggregator (optional)
If you can't work with Apple directly, contact an aggregator, or third-party distribution service that will allow you to complete and distribute your music for a small fee. Check the iTunes application page for a list of accepted aggregators. There are many options offering different services and prices, but TuneCore, CDBaby and Songcast are the most popular.
- Working with an aggregator means you have to pay a service fee, but there are also other aggregators like ADEDistribution that offer limited free services with a few extra services.
- When looking for aggregators, look for services that allow you to own the copyright to your work. If you leave the copyright to the aggregator, you can no longer modify or use it however you like.
- Aggregators that allow you to keep all or nearly all of your royalties are also preferable because you can earn more money per sale.
- Read the full rules. No matter how popular or widely used an aggregator is, you should still read all the rules about fees and legal clarity before subscribing to a service. If you don't understand the legal aspects, consult an acquaintance or hire a legal professional to explain it to you.
