YouTube is one of the most popular websites on the planet today, and it is also the most popular video streaming platform. It’s not surprising why millions and millions of users visit it every day to listen to newly released music.
In case you don’t know, YouTube is the default and go-to platform for music videos. It’s also the avenue for finding just about any remix, mashup, remix or cover music. Regardless if you want to find lyrics to a song for a karaoke night, or you want to hear a lullaby to sleep to, YouTube surely has the music you are looking for.
Recently, YouTube released YouTube Music, and it is set to dominate the streaming market. It has an app with a user-friendly interface, a wide collection of libraries, and a few more features to work out. Regardless of whether you’ve heard of it or not, it’s here to stay and compete with today’s streaming services.
About YouTube Music
YouTube Music was originally launched at the end of 2015, but it was relaunched in May 2018. Although it debuted with a few bugs and some missing features, Google continued to work on it to refine the service. Today, the tech company is proud to say that the service can compete with top players in the industry like Spotify.
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It may not be perfect, but it sure does deserve a spot in your list of options if you are looking for a streaming service to subscribe to.
YouTube Music Pricing
YouTube Music’s service starts at $9.99 per month. It is already inclusive of ad-free music, unlimited downloads, and allows listening in the background.
However, you need not pay that amount to access YouTube Music’s music library. The service is free to use for Android users. Then again, expect ads in between three to six songs. But it isn’t really bad at all.
If you are interested in subscribing to the service, it is currently available to countries like Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Bolivia, Cyprus, Canada, Brazil, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, and a lot more.
YouTube Music Features
With an intuitive Android app, YouTube Music seems to have a chance. Here are some of its features that users love:
Simple Design
When you open the app, you will immediately notice the dark theme. It may not be perfect, but it’s functional. You will also find three tabs: Home, Library, and Hotlist.
Library is where you can find all your saved music, recently played songs, and downloads. Hotlist, on the other hand, is where the trending songs and music are displayed. Home is the core reason why many prefer to use the app: it’s constantly being updated with videos and music that are tailored to the user’s needs.
Your Ultimate Personal DJ
YouTube Music is home to thousands of themed playlists. With the world’s biggest search engine backing the app, you can search song descriptions and lyrics with ease.
Free to Use for Google Play Music Subscribers
Do you have an account with Google Play Music? Then you can enjoy more functionalities without the added cost. Yes, you’ve read that right. Google Play Music subscribers already ahve access to YouTube Music Premium.
How to Use YouTube Music
YouTube Music is merely an adjustment from the typical music services. Thanks to Google’s mighty search algorithms and almost accurate predictions, this music service can offer a seamless streaming experience.
Since YouTube Music is powered by YouTube, using it is easy.
Set Up
Since the music service is tied to your YouTube account, you won’t be asked which artists you like or genres you prefer. And even if it’s your first time using it, only a few things will be asked.
Here’s how to set up the service:
- Launch the app on your Android device.
- Tap Let’s Go.
- Select the artists you’d like to follow.
- Press Done.
- You will then be served a wide range of suggested playlists based on your genre and artist preferences.
Search for Music
When it comes to searches, nobody does it better than Google. And it’s good to know that they have considered using their search algorithms to YouTube Music. When you tap on the search icon of the app, you can already search for albums, artists, music videos, and songs.
Play Back Mode
Unlike traditional music apps, the play back screen of YouTube Music is a bit different. On the main screen, you will see a toggle that allows you to switch between playing audio or video only. It also allows you to switch back and forth a playlist or a video.
Follow an Artist
As with other streaming services, you can personalize your music recommendations to specific artists. If you wish to hear the newest albums or songs, you can follow the artist itself. Here’s how:
- Search for the name of the artist.
- Tap the name of the artist.
- Press Subscribe.
Create a Playlist
You can also build your own playlist on YouTube Music. Follow these instructions:
- Tap the three-dotted menu icon next to a song you want to add to the playlist.
- Select Add to Playlist.
- Choose Create New Playlist.
- Give your playlist a name.
- Choose a privacy level for your playlist. Public is visible to everyone and can be accessed by others via searches. Unlisted is visible only through URL sharing. Private is only visible to you.
- Tap Create.
YouTube Music Pros and Cons
Like other music streaming services, YouTube Music is not perfect. In fact, it has its own pros and cons. We’ve enumerated them below.
PROS:
- It has an excellent home screen that is easy to navigate.
- The average users can conveniently and easily use it.
- YouTube Music’s content recommendations is on part with today’s top music streaming services.
- It allows you to access YouTube music videos.
- Its free version is more than enough for avid music listeners.
CONS:
- It lacks power user features.
- It does not have a desktop app.
YouTube Music Review: Our Verdict
Despite having a few setbacks in the past, it seems that YouTube has successfully created a competent challenger for Apple Music and Spotify. YouTube has used Google’s powerful AI and search capabilities and integrated them with a straightforward design. We must say that YouTube Music has an edge in the music streaming market.
Have you used YouTube Music before? Share your experience in the comments!