Despite being primarily a video platform, YouTube is still technically the world’s biggest music streaming service.
Now Google is looking to capitalise on this and take on the likes of Spotify and Apple Music with a new standalone music app that launched today.
In a blog post announcing the new app, YouTube director of product management Jay Fowler says the platform is the “absolute best place in the world to discover new music”.
“We want to do even more to support artists and all the fans who turn to YouTube to discover music, so we’re making the experience even better with a brand new YouTube Music app,” Fowler says.
“With YouTube Music, you’ll get a completely new type of experience, designed to make discovering music on YouTube easier than ever.”
The app is free but a YouTube Red membership will get rid of the ads and allow for offline listening.
It’ll work much like its music streaming competitors, with a huge catalogue of artists licensed, but will also be able to take advantage of YouTube’s vast backlog of video.
“The app also gives you complete access to one of the richest music catalogues on earth,” Fowler says.
“You’ll be able to quickly find music videos, tracks, artists and albums, but you’ll also see all the remixes, covers, lyric videos and concert footage that YouTube has to offer.
It seems Google wants users to interact with YouTube Music in much the same way as they do with the video platform, with the algorithm and suggested videos leading them down a black hole of content.
“No matter where you start in the app, the music will never stop,” Fowler says.
“Every song you play or artist you choose will take you on an endless journey through YouTube’s music catalogue.”
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Denham Sadler is a freelance journalist based in Melbourne.
