UPDATE: Google responded with a statement on Monday. “We are running an experiment with a small percentage of ad-supported users that may impact their ability to access the lyrics feature repeatedly. We often run experiments on YouTube Music to better inform our decisions around feature improvements. The majority of our global users will not see any changes to the lyrics feature.”
The original story starts below:
Worldwide, YouTube Music has the fifth largest market share among music streamers with a 9.7% share. That puts it behind Spotify (31.7%), China-only Tencent Music (14.4%), Apple Music (12.6%), and Amazon Music (11.1%). In the U.S., YouTube Music’s share of 7%-9% has it in fourth place behind Spotify (36%), Apple Music (31%), and Amazon Music (24%). Looking to squeeze some more premium revenue out of YouTube Music subscribers, Google has made a change and is starting to put song lyrics behind a paywall.
Google is now requiring that YouTube Music users pay up for a premium subscription in order to see lyrics to songs
This is something that Google had been testing and is rolling out now to some Android and iOS users. There are reports that a few YouTube Music users, when they tapped on the middle Lyrics tab on the bottom of the display in the Now Playing screen, received a card that said, “You have [x] views remaining” and “Unlock lyrics with Premium.” YouTube Music users receive lyrics for five songs free before they must subscribe to receive lyrics on additional tunes.
How much a YouTube Music premium subscription costs and what you get in return
If you want lyrics, ad-free listening, the ability to continue playing a song in the background even when you exit the YouTube Music app, then subscribing to a premium subscription of the service might be worth it to you. Priced in the U.S. for $10.99 per month, besides the aforementioned features you’ll also be able to take advantage of offline downloads, and AI features like Ask Music. With offline downloads, you’ll be able to listen to music you previously downloaded when offline, in areas with poor cellular connectivity, or when you are unable to connect to a Wi-Fi signal.
Ask Music, powered by Google Gemini, allows users to build a playlist of music that has a certain “vibe” instead of requesting tunes from a certain artist. Some examples would be:
- “Upbeat pop princesses I can powerlift to”
- “Slow, acoustic covers for a rainy Sunday morning”
- “90s grunge that sounds like it’s being played in a garage”
- “Music to help my dog stay calm while I’m away”
Gemini helps to create a “radio station” with tunes that match your descriptions, and if you like the results, tap on “Add to library” to make it a permanent playlist.
Other payment tiers offered for YouTube Music premium subscriptions
Besides the $10.99 individual YouTube Music subscription, a family with up to six people in the same household can pay $16.99 per month and share the same subscription. Verified students (who must be verified each year) pay only $5.49 per month.
