Several users have reported an issue in which some iTunes-purchased music and video files in the .M4P format will not play properly after the update to iTunes 9.1. In these cases, the files will either not play altogether, or exhibit choppy, broken playback.
The problem seems to primarily affect older, FairPlay 2 files.
The only fix for this issue we have discovered so far is less than ideal and involves downgrading to iTunes 9.0. To do so, completely remove iTunes per these instructions then download and install iTunes 9.0.
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.
In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
I had this problem and got a total runaround from Apple’s tech support. I would try to play a DRMed iTunes song–and a dialogue box would pop up, telling me that my computer wasn’t authorized to play that particular song. It asked me to provide my iTunes account name and password. When I did, iTunes would tell me that an error occurred in the iTunes store. I still was not able to play the song.
I finally figured out that if I simply quit iTunes and then re-started it, the app would play my DRMed iTunes songs.
In some cases, you may have to restart your computer.
I had this problem and got a total runaround from Apple’s tech support. I would try to play a DRMed iTunes song–and a dialogue box would pop up, telling me that my computer wasn’t authorized to play that particular song. It asked me to provide my iTunes account name and password. When I did, iTunes would tell me that an error occurred in the iTunes store. I still was not able to play the song.
I finally figured out that if I simply quit iTunes and then re-started it, the app would play my DRMed iTunes songs.
In some cases, you may have to restart your computer.