YouTube Music Premium to launch on May 22nd along with other changes

by Alan Friedman / May 17, 2018, 11:21 AM

YouTube Music will now have a free and paid version

Time to follow the bouncing ball. Starting on May 22nd, a new YouTube Music will debut. The ad-supported version will offer official songs, albums, playlists, artist-based radio and YouTube's library of videos. YouTube Music Premium is the ad-free version of the music streamer that allows you to listen to tunes in the background, and download tunes. This service will cost $9.99 a month and will be available via an app or through your desktop browser. YouTube Music Premium is replacing the Google Play Music app and subscribers to the latter will be able to hear their purchased music, uploads and playlists that were part of their Google Play Music subscription.

Both the ad-supported and premium versions of YouTube Music will now offer location-based song recommendations. For example, if you're at the airport you will receive suggestions to stream appropriate airport lounge type fare. Additionally, you can search for a specific song using vague terms. As an example, Google says that you can look for "that hipster song with the whistling." Searching by using a line of the lyrics will also come up with the correct title.

In addition, on May 22nd, YouTube Red becomes YouTube Premium. This is an ad-free service that also plays in the background and allows downloads of millions of videos. It also offers original 'programming' such as Cobra Kai (the continuing story of The Karate Kid), Step Up: High Water and Youth & Consequences. The price for this service is $11.99 per month, and it includes YouTube Premium Music. Those paying $10 monthly for YouTube Red will continue to pay the same price.

"Whether you want to listen, watch or discover, it’s all here. YouTube Music is a new music streaming service made for music: official songs, albums, thousands of playlists and artist radio plus YouTube’s tremendous catalog of remixes, live performances, covers and music videos that you can’t find anywhere else - all simply organized and personalized. For the first time, all the ways music moves you can be found in one place."-YouTube

Next Tuesday, the apps will be debuting in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and South Korea. In the next few weeks, the rollout will expand to Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

YouTube Music, YouTube Music Premium and YouTube Premium debut on May 22nd

source: YouTube

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13 Comments

1. SuperA187

Posts: 46; Member since: Jan 28, 2017

I like my Play Music app. From my Understanding, the Play Music app isn't going anywhere... yet but it also sounds like I will no longer be paying one price for my for YouTube Music and Premium like I am for Play Music and YouTube Red. That was the best part!

posted on May 17, 2018, 11:34 AM 3

2. macawmatt

Posts: 143; Member since: Feb 20, 2012

They have been far from clear on the wording for this haven't they? On Twitter, to me and another user, they replied that for current users of GPM & YTRed nothing will change other then the naming of the services and adding of the YTMusic app. Same price and same services. I'm a little more concerned since I have GPM w/ TYRed for free, rather then paying for YTRed and getting GPM for free.

posted on May 17, 2018, 11:53 AM 0

11. joevsyou

Posts: 1093; Member since: Feb 28, 2015

price change is only for new members. So if you are already paying, you are ,locked in!

posted on May 17, 2018, 6:49 PM 0

3. iPhoneFanboy

Posts: 286; Member since: Apr 21, 2018

Sorry! Apple Music for me on my amazing iPhone X!

posted on May 17, 2018, 12:04 PM 1

5. Nine1Sickness

Posts: 896; Member since: Jan 30, 2011

Sorry! Music is already free on YouTube, why bother subscribing?

posted on May 17, 2018, 12:22 PM 1

8. md227a

Posts: 229; Member since: Mar 20, 2012

So you don’t have to listen to ads.

posted on May 17, 2018, 2:17 PM 0

13. ShadowUnleashed

Posts: 89; Member since: Feb 08, 2018

YouTube Vanced is the way to go.

posted on May 17, 2018, 11:59 PM 0

4. PryvateiDz

Posts: 445; Member since: Jul 31, 2011

I literally don't see the difference between these "other changes," and what I already have with Google Play Music + YouTube Red.

posted on May 17, 2018, 12:08 PM 1

6. Champoikoi

Posts: 10; Member since: Sep 18, 2017

They're just charging an extra dollar if you want ad free YouTube playback. Thats really the only change. I wonder what the family plans will change to.

posted on May 17, 2018, 1:26 PM 0

7. md227a

As long as my price doesn’t increase for YouTube Red which I’ve been paying $9.99 for doesn’t change I’m fine. I didn’t like the YouTube music before hopefully it’s better now

posted on May 17, 2018, 2:16 PM 1

9. antmiu2

Posts: 552; Member since: Jun 19, 2011

They should integrate the subscription with youtube tv

posted on May 17, 2018, 2:53 PM 2

10. speedingcheetah

Posts: 98; Member since: Jul 22, 2017

Seriously....I don't want YT Music. Never used it. I just want the YT Red features....now u make users pay 2$ more and force both.

posted on May 17, 2018, 6:05 PM 0

12. MrFreeman

Posts: 63; Member since: Jan 29, 2016

Nobody wants this, majority were asking for a GPM rework and sadly they decided to ignore that. I still find YT Red and GPM a good bundle compared to Spotify or Apple Music. Let's hope they don't mess it up.