YouTube Music explained

YouTube Music
Type:Music and Video Streaming
Developer:YouTube
Availability:119 countries and territories; mostly in the Americas, Europe and Oceania, and in parts of Africa and Asia (see full list)
Members:100 million paid subscribers (including YouTube Premium;)[1]

YouTube Music is a music streaming service developed by the American video platform YouTube, a subsidiary of Google. The service is designed with a user interface that allows users to explore songs and music videos on YouTube based on genres, playlists, and recommendations. In April 2023, the service expanded its offerings to include support for podcasts.[2]

YouTube Music also features a premium tier that provides several benefits to subscribers. These include ad-free playback, the ability to play audio in the background, and the option to download songs for offline listening. These benefits are also available to subscribers of YouTube Premium. On December 1, 2020, YouTube Music replaced Google Play Music as Google's primary brand for music streaming.

History

The YouTube Music app was unveiled in October 2015 and released the following month; its release came alongside the unveiling of YouTube Premium (originally called YouTube Red), a larger subscription service that covers the entirety of the YouTube platform, including the Music app. Although redundant to Google's existing Google Play Music All Access subscription service, the app was designed for users who primarily consume music through YouTube.[3]

On May 17, 2018, YouTube announced a new version of the YouTube Music service, including a web-based desktop player and redesigned mobile app, more dynamic recommendations based on various factors, and the use of Google artificial intelligence technology to search songs based on lyrics and descriptions. In addition, YouTube Music became a separate subscription service (positioned as a more direct competitor to Apple Music and Spotify), offering ad-free and background/audio-only streaming, and downloading for offline playback, for music content on YouTube. The service's benefits continued to be available as part of the existing YouTube Premium service and to Google Play Music All Access subscribers. The YouTube Music subscription was priced in line with its competitors at US$9.99 per-month; the price of YouTube Premium was concurrently increased to $11.99 for new subscribers.[4] [5]

In 2018, YouTube Music reached multiple sponsorship agreements with Dick Clark Productions to serve as a partner for its television specials Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and the American Music Awards.[6] [7]

YouTube Music became available on Google Assistant smart speakers (including Google Nest smart speakers) on April 18, 2019, with feature-limited ad-supported playback available for non-subscribers in only a limited number of countries.[8]

On July 8, 2024, YouTube Music was updated in Canada to prevent background play unless the users subscribe to YouTube Music or YouTube Premium, bringing it to the same experience in most countries.[9]

In July 2024, YouTube Music became available on Tesla cars.[10]

Features

The availability of music includes many releases from mainstream artists and extends to any video categorized as music on the YouTube service.

YouTube Music initially operated parallel with Google Play Music, but the latter was shut down in December 2020.[11] Product manager Elias Roman stated in 2018 that they aimed to reach feature parity with Google Play Music before migrating users to it, but as of 2024 this has not been achieved.[12] [13] [14]

In September 2019, YouTube Music replaced Google Play Music in the core Google Mobile Services bundle distributed on new Android devices.[15] [16] In May 2020, an update was released to allow imports from Google Play Music, including purchased music, playlists, cloud libraries, and recommendations.[17] The service still contains regressions over Google Play Music, including no online music store functionality (cannot purchase songs), and a YouTube Music Premium subscription being required to cast cloud library speakers to Google Nest smart speakers. Google stated that they planned to address this and other "gaps" in features between the services before Play Music is shut down. However, at the time of the shutdown, most feature gaps had not been addressed.[13] [14]

A "pre-save" feature for upcoming releases was added in May 2020.[18]

In February 2023, YouTube Music launched Radio Builder, a free and from anywhere accessible web service for both paying subscribers and free users with iOS or Android devices. It allows users to create a custom radio station, selecting up to 30 artists with an option to hear only their songs or from comparable musicians.[19] [20] [21]

In April 2023, podcasts were added to the service, initially for users in the US only with a worldwide rollout planned at later date.[2] [22] Google Podcasts was shut down worldwide in June 2024 with YouTube Music replacing it.[23] [24]

Subscriptions

The free tier plays songs in its music video version where applicable. The premium tier plays official tracks of the album unless the user searches for the music video version. YouTube Music Premium and YouTube Premium subscribers can switch to an audio-only mode that can play in the background while the application is not in use. The free tier does not allow audio-only mode with background playback as it displays video advertisements.[25]

The free tier's audio quality supports up to 128 kbit/s, in AAC and OPUS audio formats, while 256 kbit/s AAC is only available to premium tier subscribers. In July 2024, YouTube rolled out an additional high quality option, 256 kbit/s OPUS, to premium tier subscribers.

YouTube Music Premium and YouTube Premium plans are available in individual and family variants. A family plan allows up to six family members from the same household to access plan features. Eligible students can obtain a discount on an individual plan.

style=max-width:4em Subscription tiersstyle=max-width:2em Adsstyle=max-width:8em Skipping and scrubbingstyle=max-width:6em Offline modestyle=max-width:6em Background playbackstyle=max-width:6em Audio quality
Free32, 48, 64, 128 kbit/s OPUS
32, 48 kbit/s HE-AAC, 128 kbit/s AAC[26]
Music PremiumAll free tier qualities, including 256 kbit/s AAC & OPUS[27]
PremiumAll free tier qualities, including 256 kbit/s AAC & OPUS

Geographic availability

As of March 2024, YouTube Music is available in most of the Americas, Europe and Oceania, as well as parts of Africa and Asia, with a total availability in 119 markets.[28] Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Google indefinitely suspended all of its all payment and subscription-based services in the country, including YouTube Music.[29] [30]

History of expansion
DateCountries/regionsReference(s)
May 22, 2018
  • Australia
  • Mexico
  • New Zealand
  • South Korea (paid only)
  • United States
[31] [32]
June 18, 2018
  • Austria
  • Canada
  • Finland
  • Norway
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Norway
  • Russia (suspended on March 10, 2022 until further notice)
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom
[33] [34]
August 29, 2018
  • Belgium
  • Netherlands
  • Denmark
  • Luxembourg
[35]
September 26, 2018
  • Brazil
[36]
November 14, 2018
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Japan
  • Peru
  • Portugal
  • Switzerland
  • Ukraine
[37]
March 13, 2019
  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Costa Rica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • India
  • Nicaragua
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • South Africa
  • Uruguay
[38]
May 16, 2019
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Hungary
  • North Macedonia
  • Poland
  • Romania
[39]
July 17, 2019
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • Croatia
  • Estonia
  • Greece
  • Iceland
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Malta
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Turkey
[40] [41]
September 11, 2019
  • Bahrain
  • Israel
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • United Arab Emirates
[42] [43]
November 6, 2019
  • Hong Kong
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
[44] [45]
March 10, 2020
  • Nigeria
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Venezuela
[46]
June 10, 2020
  • American Samoa
  • Aruba
  • Belarus
  • Bermuda
  • Cayman Islands
  • Egypt
  • French Guiana
  • French Polynesia
  • Guadeloupe
  • Guam
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Puerto Rico
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
[47] [48]
April 12, 2023
  • Vietnam
[49]
August 2, 2023
  • Bangladesh
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
[50] [51] [52]
December 5, 2023
  • Algeria
  • Cambodia
  • Georgia
  • Ghana
  • Iraq
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Laos
  • Senegal
  • Tunisia
[53] [54] [55] [56]
March 14, 2024
  • Azerbaijan
  • Jamaica
  • Kazakhstan
  • Libya
  • Morocco
  • Réunion
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Yemen
  • Zimbabwe
[57] [58] [59]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Smith . Adam . Crossing 100 million YouTube Music and Premium subscribers, thanks to you. YouTube Official Blog. February 4, 2024 . February 1, 2024 .
  2. Web site: Malik . Aisha . 2023-04-27 . YouTube Music officially rolls out podcasts for listeners in the US . 2023-04-27 . TechCrunch . en-US . April 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230427223212/https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/27/youtube-music-officially-launches-podcasts-for-listeners-in-the-us/ . live .
  3. News: Exclusive: An inside look at the new ad-free YouTube Red. The Verge. May 17, 2018. en-US. April 4, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190404133500/https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/21/9566973/youtube-red-ad-free-offline-paid-subscription-service. live.
  4. News: New YouTube Music Premium costs $9.99 monthly, add $2 to get all Red perks. Ars Technica. May 18, 2018. en-us. July 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180709134409/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/05/youtubes-revamped-music-subscription-service-launches-on-may-22/. live.
  5. News: Google announces YouTube Music and YouTube Premium. The Verge. May 17, 2018. August 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200814173306/https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/17/17364056/youtube-music-premium-google-launch. live.
  6. News: YouTube Music Signs American Music Awards Two-Year Title Sponsorship Deal. Spangler. Todd. August 22, 2018. Variety. October 10, 2018. en-US. October 10, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181010095434/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/youtube-music-american-music-awards-amas-sponsorship-1202913542/. live.
  7. News: YouTube Music And Dick Clark Productions Extend Partnership For 'New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest'. Hayes. Dade. November 13, 2018. Deadline. November 19, 2018. en-US. November 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181120015146/https://deadline.com/2018/11/youtube-music-dick-clark-productions-extend-partnership-for-new-years-rockin-eve-with-ryan-seacrest-1202500921/. live.
  8. Web site: YouTube Music is now free with ads on Google Home devices. TechCrunch. April 18, 2019. en-US. April 18, 2019.
  9. Web site: Reddit Post . May 30, 2024 .
  10. News: McNeal . Ryan . 3 July 2024 . YouTube Music is cruising its way into your Tesla with native app . 12 November 2024 . Android Authority.
  11. Web site: Info about the Google Play Music phase-out. November 7, 2020. Google. December 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201219191358/https://support.google.com/googleplaymusic/answer/9973710?hl=en-GB&ref_topic=6230811. dead.
  12. News: YouTube Music will eventually get Google Play Music's best features, including user uploads. The Verge. May 24, 2018. November 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201109064325/https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/23/17386752/youtube-music-uploads-feature-google-play-music. live.
  13. Web site: Amadeo. Ron. August 4, 2020. Google Music shutdown starts this month, music deleted in December. September 11, 2020. Ars Technica. en-us. January 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210125231134/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/08/google-music-shutdown-starts-this-month-music-deleted-in-december/. live.
  14. Web site: Amadeo. Ron. June 24, 2020. With YouTube Music, Google is holding my speakers for ransom. September 11, 2020. Ars Technica. en-us. February 7, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210207055804/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/06/youtube-music-library-transfers-your-purchased-music-is-not-welcome-here/. live.
  15. Web site: YouTube Music will now come preinstalled on Android devices. Welch. Chris. September 27, 2019. The Verge. en. October 8, 2019. September 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200924200613/https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/27/20886952/youtube-music-app-preinstalled-android-10. live.
  16. Web site: YouTube Music will be preinstalled on Android 10 and new Android 9 devices. TechCrunch. September 27, 2019. en-US. October 8, 2019. October 8, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191008182901/https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/27/youtube-music-will-be-preinstalled-on-android-10-and-new-android-9-devices/. live.
  17. Web site: YouTube Music can finally import your library and uploads from Google Play Music. Welch. Chris. May 12, 2020. The Verge. en. May 15, 2020. October 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201018063413/https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/12/21254378/youtube-music-google-play-library-transfer-announced. live.
  18. Web site: Al-Heeti. Abrar. YouTube Music now lets you pre-save albums. June 12, 2020. CNET. en. August 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200811134004/https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-music-now-lets-you-pre-save-albums/. live.
  19. Web site: YouTube Music will let you make your own custom radio stations / You. February 21, 2023. The Verge. February 23, 2023. February 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230223085642/https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/21/23609228/youtube-music-radio-builder-custom-stations. live.
  20. Web site: With 'Radio Builder', create your own custom station on YouTube Music: All you need to know. February 23, 2023. Hindustan Times. February 23, 2023. February 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230223085640/https://www.hindustantimes.com/technology/with-radio-builder-create-your-own-custom-station-on-youtube-music-all-you-need-to-know-101677124714221-amp.html. live.
  21. Web site: YouTube Music launches 'Radio Builder' feature, allowing users to create custom stations based on favorite artists. Business Insider. February 22, 2023. February 23, 2023. February 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230223085645/https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/youtube-music-launches-radio-builder-feature-allowing-users-to-create-custom-stations-based-on-favorite-artists/articleshow/98141666.cms. live.
  22. Chan . J. Clara . February 25, 2023 . YouTube's Podcast Play Comes Into Focus Amid Skepticism From Creators . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226041753/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/youtube-podcasts-1235332624/ . February 26, 2023 . February 26, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  23. Web site: 2024-06-26 . Farewell Google Podcasts . 2024-10-18 . RadioInfo Australia.
  24. Web site: 2024-06-25 . YouTube gets 'Your podcasts' page as Google Podcasts shuts down internationally . 2024-10-18 . Times of India.
  25. Web site: YouTube Music isn't perfect, but it's still heaven for music nerds . November 12, 2015 . Engadget . November 7, 2016 . November 12, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112022054/https://www.engadget.com/2015-11-12-youtube-music-app-hands-on.html . live .
  26. Web site: Youtube Format IDs . GitHub.
  27. Web site: Youtube Format IDs . GitHub.
  28. Web site: Where is YouTube Music available? . 23 October 2024 . YouTube Music Help.
  29. News: 10 March 2022 . YouTube, Google Play suspend payment-based services in Russia . Reuters.
  30. News: 11 March 2022 . Which Music Industry Companies Are Leaving Russia? Here's a Complete List . Digital Music News.
  31. Web site: 17 May 2018 . Introducing YouTube Premium . YouTube Official Blog.
  32. Web site: Deahl . Dani . YouTube Music and YouTube Premium officially launch in US, Canada, UK, and other countries . . June 18, 2018 . June 18, 2018 . June 18, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180618182528/https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/18/17475122/youtube-music-premium-launch-us-canada-uk . live .
  33. Web site: 18 June 2018 . YouTube Music and YouTube Premium launch in 17 countries: It's all here . YouTube Official Blog.
  34. Web site: Gao . Richard . YouTube Premium and Music launch today in 17 countries, including Canada and 11 European countries . Android Police . June 18, 2018 . June 18, 2018 . June 19, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180619035747/https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/06/18/youtube-premium-music-launch-today-17-countries-including-canada-11-european-countries/ . live .
  35. News: El Khoury . Rita . 29 August 2018 . YouTube Premium and Music Premium are now available in The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Luxembourg . Android Police.
  36. News: El Khoury . Rita . 26 September 2018 . YouTube Premium and Music Premium launch in Brazil . Android Police.
  37. Web site: Ivan. November 14, 2018. YouTube Premium and Music Premium expand to seven new countries. GSMArena. November 17, 2018. April 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190424083554/https://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_premium_and_music_premium_expand_to_seven_new_countries-news-34221.php. live.
  38. News: Wilde . Damien . 13 March 2019 . YouTube Music and Premium rolling out to 14 nations including India, South Africa . 9to5Google.
  39. News: Dwivedi . Roshan . 16 May 2019 . YouTube Premium now available in 7 European countries . Muvi One.
  40. News: El Khoury . Rita . 17 July 2019 . YouTube Premium and Music launch in 13 new countries, now available in more than 60 . Android Police.
  41. News: King . Ashley . 18 July 2019 . YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Add 13 More Countries to Reach 63 Total — But Adoption Remains Weak . Digital Music News.
  42. Web site: YouTube Premium and Music expand to 8 new countries in the Middle East. September 11, 2019. Android Central. en. September 13, 2019. December 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201201185438/https://www.androidcentral.com/youtube-premium-and-music-expand-8-new-countries-middle-east. live.
  43. News: El Khoury . Rita . 11 September 2019 . YouTube Premium and Music launch in 8 new countries in the Middle East . Android Police.
  44. News: El Khoury . Rita . 6 November 2019 . YouTube Premium and Music launch in 7 Asian markets . Android Police.
  45. News: England . Jason . 6 November 2019 . YouTube Premium and Music expand to seven new regions in Asia . Android Central.
  46. News: Wang . Jules. 10 March 2020 . YouTube Premium and Music now available in Nigeria, Turks and Caicos Islands, Venezuela . Android Police.
  47. Web site: YouTube Premium and Music now available in 14 more countries. Michail. June 10, 2020. GSMArena. June 3, 2021. October 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201003044236/https://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_premium_and_music_now_available_in_14_more_countries_-news-43692.php. live.
  48. News: Mohan . Babu . 11 June 2020 . YouTube Premium and Music are now available in 14 new markets . Android Central.
  49. News: Quy . Luu . 12 April 2023 . YouTube Premium rolls out in Vietnam . VnExpress International.
  50. News: 3 August 2023 . YouTube Premium launched in Bangladesh at BDT 239 per month . The Daily Star.
  51. News: 2 August 2023 . YouTube Premium and YouTube Music arrive in Pakistan . The Express Tribune.
  52. News: 2 August 2023 . YouTube Premium is now available in Sri Lanka . ReadME Sri Lanka.
  53. Web site: Abodalo . Liliana . 12 December 2023 . YouTube Music & Premium expands to Algeria, Jordan, Iraq and Tunisia . Google Blog (Mideast & North Africa).
  54. Web site: Awofisayo . Addy . 6 December 2023 . YouTube Music & Premium land in Kenya, Senegal, and Ghana . Google Blog (Africa).
  55. News: Li . Abner . 18 December 2023 . YouTube Premium and Music Premium launching in 10 more countries . 9to5Google.
  56. Web site: Keverenge . Hillary . 2023-12-06 . YouTube Premium lands in Kenya for Kshs 499 per month . 2023-12-06 . Android Kenya . en-US.
  57. Web site: Abodalo . Liliana . 18 March 2024 . YouTube Music & Premium expands to Morocco, Libya and Yemen . Google Blog (Mideast & North Africa).
  58. News: Mathur . Chandraveer . 14 March 2024 . YouTube Premium expands to 10 new countries, including 1 in North America . Android Police.
  59. Web site: 14 March 2024 . YouTube Premium now available in 10 more countries . GSMArena.

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