YouTube Music, the video service’s first full-fledged music streaming offering is here, and it’s surprisingly great. At first glance, it’s largely Google Play Music with a fresh coat of paint and music videos. But look closer, and it’s clear YouTube has been putting in the work to improve upon Google’s previous attempts at music streaming, and the foundation is here to accomplish that.
If you’re new to streaming or if you exclusively listen to music through YouTube, the overhauled Music experience is designed to bring you in with the familiarity of what is already the world’s most popular music streaming service. It’s made to intrigue you with a set of easy-to-use discovery and search features no other streaming service can top and keep you listening (and watching) with the same library full of live performances, covers from unsigned artists, and random songs you already use to procrastinate at work all day (that aren’t available on Spotify or Apple Music).
For the most part, YouTube Music accomplishes all of this, but there are parts that are overly complicated. For example, its pricing structure: there’s a free, ad-supported version of YouTube Music, a $10-per-month ad-free version called YouTube Music Premium, and a $12-per-month subscription for YouTube Premium (formerly known as YouTube Red), which includes YouTube Music Premium as well as YouTube Original shows and ad-free viewing on the traditional YouTube app and website. (Current YouTube Red subscribers get to keep their current pricing, and they will also get YouTube Music Premium.)
YouTube has leveraged Google’s vast AI and search capabilities and combined it with a simple design and a promise to make this the One True Google Music Streaming Service. With a well-built app, YouTube Music has a real fighting chance in the streaming market.
source: www.theverge.com