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markjalb
Contributor I
May 4, 2023
Answered

Apple Music playback interrupted saying 'Unable to play - the song is not encoded correctly'

  • May 4, 2023
  • 79 replies
  • 6146 views

When I stream songs from Apple Music via the Sonos app, playback is occasionally interrupted with a message of 'Unable to play [insert song name] - the song is not encoded correctly'.

It's unpredictable when it happens, sometimes it could be half way through a track and it occurs, also happens multiple tracks in a row. Other times it could go through multiple tracks with no issues then the error suddenly occurs.

I've done all the troubleshooting stated on the Sonos website but I'm pretty sure my setup isn't the problem because I use a Radio App and also use YouTube Music via the Sonos app with no playback issues, the error just happens with Apple Music.

Has anyone else experienced the same issue? Suggestions on a possible fix?

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    Best answer by Corry P

    Hi @markjalb 

    Welcome to the Sonos Community!

    We are aware of an issue whereby tracks uploaded to Apple Music can give a “not encoded correctly” error when attempted to play on Sonos. Apple are working on a resolution.

    In the meantime, you can circumvent the issue by searching for tracks instead of browsing, or by grouping-in a speaker not in the following list:

    • Amp

    • Arc / Arc SL

    • Beam (all generations)

    • Era 100 / 300

    • Five

    • Move

    • One / One SL

    • Port

    • Ray

    • Roam / Roam SL

    • Sub (gen 2, gen 3) / Sub Mini

    • SYMFONISK products

    I hope this helps.

    79 replies

    Show previous replies
    pethead101
    Contributor I
    September 6, 2023

    I just had an update to both iOS & Android apps, but certain Apple tracks are still not playing (e.g Tension by Kylie Minogue) with the same "unsupported digital rights system" message being displayed.  Older products, e.g. my Play 1 are not affected.

    IanBuk
    Lyricist III
    September 6, 2023

    I just had an update to both iOS & Android apps, but certain Apple tracks are still not playing (e.g Tension by Kylie Minogue) with the same "unsupported digital rights system" message being displayed.  Older products, e.g. my Play 1 are not affected.


    Hmm, interesting. I played several songs I was having trouble with, all Dolby Atmos and all were fine but I tried the song you mentioned and it doesn’t work lol 😂 

    no idea what’s going on.

    I’m on iOS 17

      pethead101
      Contributor I
      September 6, 2023

      I just had an update to both iOS & Android apps, but certain Apple tracks are still not playing (e.g Tension by Kylie Minogue) with the same "unsupported digital rights system" message being displayed.  Older products, e.g. my Play 1 are not affected.


      Hmm, interesting. I played several songs I was having trouble with, all Dolby Atmos and all were fine but I tried the song you mentioned and it doesn’t work lol 😂 

      no idea what’s going on.

      I’m on iOS 17

      Obviously not a fan of Kylie!  I've contacted Sonos support via chat & submitted a diagnostic report.  As others have stated Sonos are aware of the issue, but seem to be implying it's an Apple Music issue.  As I have no problem with Spotify & YouTube Music I would tend to disagree.

        pethead101
        Contributor I
        September 7, 2023

        I just had an update to both iOS & Android apps, but certain Apple tracks are still not playing (e.g Tension by Kylie Minogue) with the same "unsupported digital rights system" message being displayed.  Older products, e.g. my Play 1 are not affected.


        Hmm, interesting. I played several songs I was having trouble with, all Dolby Atmos and all were fine but I tried the song you mentioned and it doesn’t work lol 😂 

        no idea what’s going on.

        I’m on iOS 17

        Obviously not a fan of Kylie!  I've contacted Sonos support via chat & submitted a diagnostic report.  As others have stated Sonos are aware of the issue, but seem to be implying it's an Apple Music issue.  As I have no problem with Spotify & YouTube Music I would tend to disagree.

         

        Caniwi
        Lyricist I
        September 11, 2023

        Hi @markjalb 

        Welcome to the Sonos Community!

        We are aware of an issue whereby tracks uploaded to Apple Music can give a “not encoded correctly” error when attempted to play on Sonos. Apple are working on a resolution.

        In the meantime, you can circumvent the issue by searching for tracks instead of browsing, or by grouping-in a speaker not in the following list:

        • Amp

        • Arc / Arc SL

        • Beam (all generations)

        • Era 100 / 300

        • Five

        • Move

        • One / One SL

        • Port

        • Ray

        • Roam / Roam SL

        • Sub (gen 2, gen 3) / Sub Mini

        • SYMFONISK products

        I hope this helps.

        Sorry but this does not work.  Along with the ARC, Bass, and Move, I have 4 Play ones as well as a Playbar. all the Music is encoded as either mp3 or mp4. It will not play on any of the speakers.  It would be great for Sonos to fix this as I have over 10,000 songs in my itunes library.

        Many thanks

        Pete

          Sonosfan41
          Trending Lyricist I
          September 11, 2023

          I dont have uploaded music, only direct stream. For example new Rolling Stones song Angry, plays for couple of seconds than stops with that DRM encoding message.

          Song is great thou so I suffer!

            IanBuk
            Lyricist III
            September 11, 2023

            I don’t have any of my own tracks either, all direct streams and from my testing, it is really random when it does or doesn’t work. I was able to play several songs fine, but when I searched for one someone mentioned above it didn’t work, so the work around from Sonos isn’t great for me. 

            pethead101
            Contributor I
            September 11, 2023

            I have a mixture of songs uploaded & streamed directly.  The tracks marked "uploaded" in iTunes always play so the reply from Sonos is not the case in my experience.  It is those marked "matched" or streamed directly from Apple Music that can cause the error. 

            Grouping in an old Play 1 isn't ideal as Dolby Atmos is then not available.

              pethead101
              Contributor I
              September 15, 2023

              The issue appears to suddenly fixed itself for me.  What I did do which I don't know affected anything was sign out & in again of the Apple Music app on the device I was using the Sonos app on. 

              I tried a selection of tracks from 40 Licks by Rolling Stones that @Sonosfan41 was having problems with & also the 2 tracks I was having issues with.  I'm using Android Sonos app v15.7.1 Android v13 & Apple Music app v 4.2.0. Hopefully this isn't just a fluke & the issue's been fixed for everyone!

              Sonosfan41
              Trending Lyricist I
              September 15, 2023

              The issue appears to suddenly fixed itself for me.  What I did do which I don't know affected anything was sign out & in again of the Apple Music app on the device I was using the Sonos app on. 

              I tried a selection of tracks from 40 Licks by Rolling Stones that@Sonosfan41 was having problems with & also the 2 tracks I was having issues with.  I'm using Android Sonos app v15.7.1 Android v13 & Apple Music app v 4.2.0. Hopefully this isn't just a fluke & the issue's been fixed for everyone!

              Thnx for info, tried it as you said, but the problem is present as before. Using it on iPhone with latest iOS.

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