Google is back with yet another music streaming service. This time the company is rebranding YouTube Red and splitting it into two new options named YouTube Music and YouTube Premium.
Here’s everything you need to new about YouTube’s new streaming apps, whether you’re wondering which version to pick, trying to compare them to the competition, or just want to know what happens to your old Google Play Music account.
What’s Different?
Of Google’s two new options, YouTube Premium is the more familiar one. It’s basically just a rebranded version of YouTube Red, offering music streaming and some original content. You also get special features like ad-free videos, offline video downloads, and the ability the play YouTube videos in the background on your phone. The only bad news here is that YouTube Premium is more expensive at $14.99 ($3 more than YouTube Music).
Meanwhile, YouTube Music feels more like your typical streaming service. $11.99 gets you unlimited ad-free music streaming, and there’s a free ad-supported version too. Google is also trying to set itself apart with AI-powered search and discovery.
These changes only affect new customers, so if you’re already paying for one of Google’s current streaming services there’s nothing to worry about. And yes, that includes devoted Google Play Music customers who’ve been around from the beginning.
Comparing the Competition
When it comes to price, YouTube Music is pretty standard at $11.99 per month, but Google hasn’t mentioned whether it will offer a discounted family plan as well — something Apple Music and Spotify both do.Amazon Music unlimited costs the same at $11.99 per month, but only $4.99 if you’re going at it with an Echo speaker (Their family plan is $17.99 and supports six members).
As for YouTube Premium, you’re paying more but it may be worth the extra cash. Just getting ad-free YouTube videos alone is already huge. Combine that with YouTube’s original shows and movies, and it’s not a bad deal. If you’re a big YouTube fan (and you’re not already paying for YouTube Red) this is the option for you.
Of course, Google isn’t the only company trying to win us over with exclusives. Apple Music subscribers often get early access to new albums and music videos. The company is also developing a bunch of original programming (including a spinoff version of James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke), which will probably debut in Apple Music app too.
Finally, if your top priority is finding new music, Spotify is still the way to go. The company uses special algorithms to come up with spot-on music recommendations, including those awesome Discovery Weekly playlists. By comparison, Apple’s music recommendations aren’t particularly great, though there is a trick for improving them.
As for YouTube Music/Premium, Google claims you’ll get solid music suggestions thanks to the company’s AI advantage, but until we can actually try that on out for ourselves, you probably shouldn’t delete your Spotify account.
Comments
2 responses to “How YouTube’s New Music Streaming Service Stands Up To The Competition”
I cancelled youtube red after my free trial, because it wasn’t really worth it, so now they want to cover up a price hike by splitting it in 2 products.
I couldn’t give a rats ass about youtube originals. All i care about is ad free videos and occasional streaming (kids playing kids songs, at most an hour a day, though still trialling amazon music, but that’s rather pathetic for the music my kids want), $144 a year is just not worth it at the moment, and now they want to charge an extra $36 a year to get ad free youtube.
After years of seeing YouTube’s video recommendations I don’t think I want that algorithm recommending music.
What I REALLY want is the ability to cast the audio of youtube videos to chromecast audio. YouTube music was supposed to do this, but for whatever reasons you can’t see every YouTube video in YouTube music app. Very frustrating because our main source of music comes from YouTube music videos.