Freaky deaky.

[sarea]

I have started to notice something about my iTunes at work that is really starting to freak me out. I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation for it (</Scully>), but damned if I know what it is.

So when I fire up iTunes, I see my music library. But under "Shared Music" I also see other people's music libraries! People I don't know. People who don't have access to my machine. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out where iTunes is getting those libraries. First time I saw "Casey's Music" I thought, oh, maybe this is a 'fake' list that iTunes creates to show you how to use its cool features. But when examining the library, I can tell right away that it's an actual person's music library -- first of all, there's tons and tons of music in it, with whole, real albums and such. Then I thought, maybe it's just my own music, and it's just naming it something weird. But no -- I don't own most of the albums in "Casey's" library, nor have I downloaded them. And yes, I have tried actually listening to the music, and YES, I can actually listen to them! So whoever you are, Casey, I can listen to your music, and I have to say that I applaud your musical selections. But also, *freaks out*.

I thought maybe it was a fluke, and that once I shut down iTunes, it would go away. It hasn't. Not even after multiple reboots. I can still listen to Casey's music (it's where I heard Mr. Brightside for the first time). Then TODAY, there was a new music library added! Someone named "G-Money"! G-Money has Madonna's new album (v. nice btw) and, coincidentally, Massive Attack's "Teardrop," which I deliberately looked for because it was on my mind after discussing it with lissannej yesterday. O.o It's almost like ... my own private Music of Requirement program. Whatever music I want to listen to, "Casey" or "G-Money" will miraculously produce it for me. Which is cool, but no less freaky.

One of you out there must be able to explain this phenomenon. What is going on? How am I able to access these other people's music on my *locally installed* iTunes?!

Comments

Your Ghost Music

[myamyme.livejournal.com]

I might can help you with this. iTunes is neat in that you can listen to other people's music (with their permission, of course).

iTunes can be set up (and is, by default) to automatically search for other people near you who also use iTunes. I believe it does not automatically share your music as well, but on that point I may be wrong. (It has been a long time since I first installed iTunes.) You will almost certainly find that while you can listen to any of their music, you cannot copy or burn it for yourself. And if you were to view sharing options (on the Menu bar, Edit-->Preferences, Sharing tab), you can choose not to view their music, choose to share your music (and give your library a cool name, like G-Money's), or choose to share your music with the condition that others must enter a password to listen to it. If you choose to share your music, you can also share specific playlists you have created.

Well, I hope it helps. It's a really neat program. I LOVE it.

[xcarol.livejournal.com]

That's so weird. It's never happened on my iTunes before. :/

I have a quick question to ask you - do you remember where you got your Draco Malfoy mood theme? My friend recently acquired a paid account and she wants to make good use of all its features. :)

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

It turns out it has a cool share feature where you can listen to the music of people near you. O.o

Oh dear, I had a Draco Malfoy mood theme? I don't recall that at all. The only thing I can think of when you say that is, I once created a customized mood theme for myself that had various images of my favorite actors/characters -- that had some Draco in it. But as for one that was just him, I don't remember it at all...

[batgirl801.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't freak out too much...When I first noticed the other libraries...there were about TWENTY. Probably because I'm on a college campus, so there are lots of iTunes users around me.

Somehow, I got them to go away, as I couldn't put them on my iPod or anything, and that's really all I use iTunes for.

[wicked-g.livejournal.com]

YES! I have this too! I had Muffin's music at one point.

...

And yeah, you don't know me, just in case you were wondering. Um...*shuffles off*

[iamsam-samiam.livejournal.com]

I don't really know, but at my sister's college, they can access people's (who are okay with it) libraries. Like a .... college music network, I guess.

[scarletmote.livejournal.com]

*coughs* (http://ourtunes.sourceforge.net/) <-- Abandon Ethics, all ye who enter here.

Seriously though, the iTunes sharing function is a great way to find new music and new artists.

[heinous_bitca.livejournal.com]

We share music at work all the time. It's the music of everyone who is on the same subnet as you. If you have cable, you're listening to your neighbors' music, likely!

[twinklepug.livejournal.com]

I say, SCORE!!!!!