Announced last week and rolling out as of this Tuesday, YouTube Music is Google’s latest music streaming offering. While the mobile apps are visually similar to the previous iteration of the service, several new features have been added that reflect a rethought product. There are many smart additions, while the desktop client is a very welcome addition.
Since YouTube Music was announced last week and as the revamped streaming offering began rolling out yesterday, Google has ardently reiterated that “nothing will change” with Play Music. That is true in the short-term, but the company is planning to eventually phase out the previous service when feature parity is reached.
After an announcement last week, the new YouTube Music is beginning to roll out. With a focus on personalized recommendations and a vast library, there are revamped Android and iOS apps, as well as a new desktop client.
The revamped YouTube Music and new YouTube Premium were announced last night, but many questions linger ahead of the rolling launch next Tuesday. From questions about the family plan to Play Music membership, Google has provided us with several answers.
With the merger of the YouTube and Play Music teams in early 2017, Google began laying the groundwork for a new service to “deliver the best possible product.” With the video network taking the lead on the new joint offering, a revamped YouTube Music is launching today. Meanwhile, Red is being replaced by a “Premium” tier that is slightly more expensive for new subscribers.
Following this evening’s report revealing that the new YouTube Music is coming soon, Google has launched a page where users can sign-up for early access. This new launch site reveals that the upcoming service will use the existing YouTube Music logo and branding.
For the past several months, a revamp to Google’s streaming music offerings has been widely rumored. A new report today pegs the launch of the revamped YouTube Music for next week, while YouTube Red and other video features will be replaced by a new “Premium” service.
Update: Google has officially announced the new YouTube Music and Premium.
Earlier this month, users began spotting a significant visual revamp to one important aspect of YouTube Music, as well as the addition of a key new feature. The Now Playing screen was completely redesigned, while the YouTube client finally gained a queue feature. With version 2.31, the feature is now available for all Android users.
Late last year, we spotted YouTube Music working on a new “queue” feature for better song playback ordering and management. That feature now appears to be live for some users, along with a revamped player interface.
Update: A source tells us that Google is currently planning to stick with the “YouTube Music” brand for the forthcoming music service. Remix, as has been previously reported, is only the internal codename.
A tipster told us recently that Google has lately been “preparing to shut down Google Play Music,” something that I hinted at early today in a tweet listing the service among a couple of other current Google products that I think are about to get cut. While we couldn’t corroborate the tip, it appears Droid-Life has — Play Music subscription streaming is likely shutting down soon.
Rumors last year pegged the launch of Google’s new YouTube music streaming service in March, but of course that month has come and gone. Meanwhile, YouTube Music continues its regular updates that don’t reveal many user-facing changes, but always show work under-the-hood.
Just last week, a keynote at SXSW confirmed that YouTube’s upcoming subscription service would combine the “best of Google Play Music.” New comments from YouTube’s head of music today detail how it plans to attract those who already use the video site as a music streaming service, for example by offering exclusive content.
We’ve known for quite some time that YouTube has been planning a new premium music subscription service, but the details have been a bit unclear at times. Now, at SXSW, YouTube’s Global Head of Music, Lyor Cohen, has given a bit of extra insight.
Recent updates to YouTube Music over the past few weeks have made the app more like Play Music in a sign that a revamp is in the works. Version 2.23 over the weekend continue this and hints at SD card support and an Incognito mode.
In recent months, YouTube Music has been frequently updated on Android. This comes ahead of a rumored revamp of Google’s music services reportedly led by YouTube. That possible merger intensifies with version 2.21 of YouTube Music adding the same quality controls found in Play Music. Meanwhile, the app is preparing for an international expansion that likely coincides with YouTube Red’s.
Google is expected to release a revamped music streaming service that would reportedly merge YouTube Music and Play Music. Pegged for an announcement as early as March, previous teardowns have already revealed some possible hints about it. Today, YouTube Music 2.19 reveals an icon for something named “YouTube Premiere.”
One of 2018’s big launches for Google is expected to be a revamped music streaming service. Current rumors peg a redesign for YouTube Music and Play Music coming as soon as March. Our teardown of the latest version of YouTube Music reveals that the app is prepping a number of features, including Play Music’s location-based playlists.
Earlier this month, more details emerged about the long rumored subscription service from Google that would merge Play Music and YouTube. Negotiations with music labels were cited as an obstacle at the time, but today, YouTube has struck the necessary deals.
YouTube Music only recently brought over controls for double-tapping to seek through a video. Today, the latest version hints at the app adding the ability to enable/disable autoplay, as well as a new queue feature for arranging playback.
For the past year, Google has been rumored to be working on a new music streaming service. In February, the Play Music and YouTube teams were combined, with the merger of the two products actually confirmed in July. A new report today shares more details, including a possible launch date.
With YouTube’s brand redesign in August, Google’s video service significantly revamped its web app, while its mobile apps received various tweaks to match. YouTube Music was initially updated with some of this new branding, but this week receives a new icon.
Last month, a teardown of YouTube for Android revealed a string that referenced a new “YouTube Plus” service. Likely complimenting the existing “Red” subscription, another reference for YouTube Plus has now appeared in YouTube Music.
With nearly identical features, it can be quite confusing whether Play Music or YouTube Music should be used for tunes. Fortunately, Google might be simplifying this situation by combining the two teams to create “the best possible product.”
Many of the products and services that Google releases are usually geographically limited to the United States. After an initial rollout in the US last October, YouTube Red is now available in Australia and New Zealand.
