With platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and Pandora absolutely crushing the streaming game, YouTube Music is the next to enter the ring.
After a year in beta, the app is now available to iPhone and Android owners, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
For YouTube’s take on rivaling the big dogs such as Spotify and Pandora, the app is focusing on showcasing music videos in general, regardless of recording quality. The library has roughly 50 million songs, and is made up of audio-only tracks and music videos. Users will see a screenshot of the music video for the audio is coming from on the screen, considering not every song has a visual component to accompany it on YouTube.
Of that 50 million, it is reported that 20 million of the catalog is coming from the independent side of things, as opposed to the mainstream. Which, given that YouTube has been a platform for users of all ranges of musical experiences and backgrounds, makes sense that the app is going to stay true to its roots as being an outlet of promotion for indie artists.
Another element behind YouTube Music is their focus on the “Daily 40,” which is a curated playlist of the songs and music videos that are considered the most culturally relevant at the time. In addition to that, YouTube Music also features recommendations on videos and songs to check out next, just like its platform on the web.
YouTube Music, much like its competition, also has a viewing option that is free and supported by ads, or a subscription to YouTube Red, which is priced at $9.99 with a free one-month trial for first-timers.
The new YouTube Music app is now available on Android and iOS.
