PSA: download your Groove Music Purchases by 12/31/17

The ghost of Zune has killed Microsoft’s Groove. Or more realistically, Microsoft’s cascading failures πŸ™‚ Regardless, you have until December 31st in 2017 to download all your previously purchased Groove music to your own devices. There are reasonable chances some titles may not be available for download.

About 5% of the albums I had purchased were no longer available in Groove because of licensing issues (or some other nonsense), thus I could not download them. Another reason to “trust” cloud music e-stores! I don’t know what the steps are to recover the unavailable music or at least get a refund – or if there are any steps. Googling may have some answers but I haven’t bothered to do so yet πŸ™‚

If you have the “Groove Music Pass” subscription, they are co-operating with Spotify so you can transfer your playlists and such to the Spotify service. The deadline for this is January 31st in 2018. I believe they are offering refunds for prepaid subscriptions after 2017.

Microsoft Music Store and Groove Music Pass going away, Pro-Rated Refunds for 2018+ prepaid subscriptions

The ghost of Zune is taking its vengeance on Microsoft’s latest half-hearted attempt at a music streaming service. Their “Groove Pass” subscription service will end 12/31/17. Anyone with a prepaid subscription will receive a prorated refund for their 2018+ portion. Microsoft has partnered with Spotify to transition users and playlists over there.

But that’s not all. Also dying is Microsoft’s Music Store (part of the Windows/Microsoft store) which allows you to buy and download music. So if you have any music purchases there, it may be a good idea to start downloading before they disappear. They mention this more clearly in the FAQ:

“After December 31, 2017, music won’t be available for purchase or download in the Windows Store or for streaming in Groove.”

This is the official announcement and this is the official FAQ on the transition.

OneDrive will continue to be able to play music, and the Groove app in itself will continue to play local music files, but NOT any previous Microsoft music purchases or Groove Pass subscription downloads.

[DEAD] Pay $10, Get 7 Months of Microsoft Groove Music Subscription

This Labor Day 2017 promotion expired…

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