Google Home Speakers can’t find newly released music on Apple Music

[Jeanius]

I have a paid Apple Music account and it is linked as the default media player in my Google Home setting. When we say “Okay Google…” and request specific songs, artists, or albums, it usually works just fine—sometimes we have to rephrase, but it usually works.

Except with newly released music. Hozier released an EP called “Unheard” 10 days ago, and some songs from it are on Billboards’ Top 10! But when I say “Okay Google, play the album Unheard by Hozier.” Google responds saying, “Okay playing Hozier.” And plays music from an older album. When I ask it “Okay Google, play the album Cowboy Carter by Beyonce,” it says “Okay, playing Cowboy Carter,” but then plays some random techno dance album called “Act II” but is not by Beyonce nor does it include the words Cowboy or Carter. I’ve also had this issue requesting specific songs from newly released albums.

the only work around I’ve found is creating a playlist and putting all the songs from the album in the playlist and then asking Google to play my playlist, then it happily and easily plays the songs and album. 
I’ve unlinked and linked Apple Music to my account and restarted it. Nothing helps.

[TimB1]

I’m having exact same problem with Cowboy Carter playing that techno dance album! Has been doing it for a week already.

[jenniffert]

Hi there,

Thanks for posting and I'm sorry for the delay.

Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try to fix the incorrect song playing issue:

• Confirm you are using a mobile device that has the same Google account linked to your Display or Speaker
• Confirm the default music provider is set up correctly in the Google Home app. For more information, you can refer to the next article: Incorrect music playback
• Ensure you have the latest version of the Google Home app installed

If the issue persists, consider performing a factory reset on your device.

Please let me know if these steps help.

Best regards,

Jenniffer

[Jeanius]

Thanks Jennifer!  I appreciate your taking the time to respond.

I've already done all of these and other troubleshooting guidance. I unlinked and relinked my Apple Music to my Google Home settings for playback from my cell phone, the device I use to control all my Google Home settings. 

I've also recently done a hard reset on my Google Home device;

and I've tried everything in the article regarding "Incorrect Music Playback." (Thanks for linking it! I had read it before I posted, but I read it again to make sure.)

And it does play the correct music when I request the vast majority of music. If I request an older album from the same artists it works just fine and plays this music from my Apple Music account/service ("Renaissance" by Beyonce--no problem; "Unreal Unearth album" by Hozier, finds it and plays it perfectly etc); so I know that my Apple Music account is accurately linked to my Google Home Assistant. I still unlinked and relinked it, in case that helped update any settings since the new music was released.

It is only newly released (within the past 3 weeks or so) that Google Assistant can't find it in Apple Music. When I use the Apple Music app in on my device, the music is available and searchable; I can use the search function and find it within the Apple Music app on my phone (the same phone I used to connect to Google Home). However, when I verbally ask Google Assistant to play the same, Google Assistant can't locate newly released music. (Again, for example, the song "Too Sweet" by Hozier; or any of the individual songs or the album as a whole from "Cowboy Carter" by Beyonce.)

The music I've been asking for are Top 10 singles across multiple Billboard charts globally, these aren't obscure new music. Since I can find it easily within Apple Music and play it directly on my phone or computer from the Apple Music app, this isn't an Apple problem (though I've spoken with Apple reps to make sure).

However, because I have an iPhone, I cannot cast music from Apple Music to Google Home speakers, I have to use Google Assistant, and Google Assistant can't find the music, so I'm stuck listening to it on my phone or in my headphones, rather than over my speaker network. 

[jenniffert]

Hi @Jeanius,

Thanks for helping me troubleshoot your speaker. I'll do my best to figure out what's happening.

Please let me know if you've already tried resetting the device to factory settings. If so, please let me know the results.

I appreciate you keeping me updated.

Best regards, 

Jenniffer