Does iTunes remember what I have previously paid for?

[Quicksilver71]

After the great iPad data loss catastrophe last night it seems that I have managed to lose all the music previously purchased on my old iPhone, not just from the iPad but from my hard drive completely. Before I spend hours trying to restore it, I just wondered whether iTunes 'remembers' what I have previously paid for and lets me download it again without paying, like the app store does?

 

[DefBref]

Unfortunately music (and video) is a one download only deal. However people have had success contacting apple support and getting them again.