However, if you only listen to music on your iPhone or Mac via the official Music app, you do not need this software. But if you want to play your Apple Music tracks on a Linux laptop, a smart TV, an Android phone, or a dedicated MP3 player, AudKit Apple Music Converter 1.2.0 is one of the best tools for the job.

Always respect copyright laws. Use this software for personal backup purposes only, never for distribution. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes. Circumventing DRM may violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in the United States and similar laws in other countries. The author does not condone piracy. Always check your local laws before using such tools.

The answer is gray. In many jurisdictions (including the US under the DMCA), circumventing DRM is prohibited. However, time-shifting or format-shifting for personal use has been defended in court in some countries. For the average home user, using AudKit to create a personal backup of paid subscription music is rarely prosecuted, but it does violate Apple’s terms of service.

In the modern digital music landscape, portability and ownership often clash with the restrictions of streaming services. Apple Music, with its massive library of over 90 million songs, is a prime example. While users pay a monthly subscription to access this catalog, the music is protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM). This means that even though you pay for it, you don’t truly own the files. You cannot play them on non-Apple devices (like an Android DAP or a Windows Media Player), burn them to a CD, or edit them in DJ software.